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Real Stories 

FROM 

Baltimore County History 

Data Obtained by the Teachers and Children 
of Baltimore County (Maryland) Schools 

Illustrated with drawings by 7th and 8th Grade Pupils 

Revised and Adapted 
by 

ISOBEL DAVIDSON, 

Supervisor of Primary Grades, 
Baltimore County Schools. 



BALTIMORE 
WARWICK & YORK, INC. 

1917. 



Copyrighted, 1917, by 
WARWICK & YORK, Inc. 



JAN -4 I3i8 



©CI.A4819GU 



CONTENTS 

Page 
A Foreword 1 

I. Once Upon a Time in Our Community 

1. Neighborhood Changes 5 

2. Our Country Long Ago 9 

3. Indians of Maryland; Susquehannoughs and Al- 

gonquins 10 

4. Coming of the First White Man — Captain John 

Smith in the Chesapeake 13 

5. How Maryland Was Named 16 

II. Once Upon a Time in Baltimore County 

1. The Changing Boundary Line 19 

2. The Early Pioneers 20 

3. Colonial Times 22 

4. County Seats : Old Baltimore, Foster's Neck. Joppa, 

Baltimore Town, Towson Ii7 

III. Once Upon a Time in Baltimore Town 46 

IV. Once Upon a Time in Our Town and Vicinity 

1. Green Spring Valley — 1743 53 

a. Fort Garrison 60 

b. St. Thomas' Church in Garrison Forest 65 

c. Before the Railroads — Taverns and Their Patrons 85 

d. Montrose, Once the Home of a King 88 

e. The Elms 90 

f. John Eager Howard 103 

g. Confederate Soldiers' Home 99 

2. Towson— 1771 122 

a. Nathan Towson 128 

b. The Famous Old Stage 131 

c. A Visit to Hampton 136 

d. Colonel Harry Gilmor 144 

c. Mason and Dixon Line 160 



V. 



Page 

3. Catonsville 163 

a. The Rolling Road; Johnny Cake Road 166 

b. The Story of a Pioneer Flour Mill 180 

c. Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Dougherogan 

Manor 194 

4. Sparrows Point, an Industrial Town 203 

a. Light Houses 210 

b. Battle of North Point 221 

c. Fort Howard 227 

After Stage Coach Days. 

1. The Story of a Steamboat — 1784 233 

2. The Story of a Railroad— 1828 236 

3. The Story of a Newspaper — 1837 240 

4. The Story of the Telegraph— 1844 244 

5. The Story of the Telephone— 1876 246 

6. The Story of a Dairy Farm— 1900 248 

jMotivation in School Work 

Our Pioneer Party 250 

An Auld Lang Syne Tea 264 




Real Stories From 
Baltimore County History 

A FOREWORD. 

In its report to the National Education Association the Com- 
mittee of Eight on the Study of History in the Elementary 
Schools, appointed by the American Historical Society, said: 
"Our history teaching in the past has tailed largely because it has 
not been picturesciue enough." 

If this criticism were justified by the colorless history teach- 
ing observed in the presentation of material throughout the 
grades, doubtless the same truth applies to the teaching of local 
history, for all too often that which is near and immediate, by 
virtue of its nearness, loses its romantic quality and becomes 
prosaic and commonplace fact. It is true that distance does 
lend a kind of enchantment as well as dignity to what may have 
been, once upon a time, a commonplace event, but any signifi- 
cant character or event takes on new meaning, may even have 
a quality of picturesqueness, if placed in its right perspective. 
Therefore it behooves us to choose such material from out the 
past experiences of the communities as will interpret the pres- 
ent, and to manifest such skill in method of presentation that 
local history teaching may not fail "because it is not picturesque 
enough." 

The history of any community is the history of the com- 
mon man, and as there is a constant struggle in adjustment to 
environment, history is ever in the process of making, is not 
static, but ever in a fluid state, progressing, changing as time 
goes on. The aim of local history teaching may then said to 
be "to make the children more intelligent with respect to the 
more crucial activities, conditions and problems of present-day 
life," by selecting those typical activities which serve this pur- 
pose. Certain interesting elements indicative of changes con- 
stantly taking place appear in the study of every community in 
which the j)eoi)le should have wholesome pride. 

Certainly Baltimore County has a rich background which 
lends dignity to the present and out of the days of long ago 
step stately figures who add charm to every scene; stirring 
events that warm the blood ; and spots hallowed by the acts of 
brave ones; yes, changing persons and events — moving pictures 



2 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

emphasizing tiiree distinct periods: "In Those Days," "Yester- 
day" and "Today." With sufficient fact and the gift of imagina- 
tion at one's command, one can weave about even the common- 
place event the veil of enchantment and give that touch of human 
interest which will help cliildren to realize in simple fashion that 
the past contributes to the present. 

In the "Real Stories from Baltimore County History" an 
attempt has been made to record simple facts gleaned from 
firsthand sources in the neighborhood by teachers and children 
through talks with the oldest residents, by means of old letters, 
manuscripts, wills, old newspapers, church records, publications 
made by land companies, and from that most reliable source 
Scharflf's "History of Baltimore County." The events which 
indicate changes in the community have been chosen and these 
naturally enough fall into the three groups, viz, the early pioneer 
days, the colonial days, and after stage-coach days, into the pres- 
ent, for each community has passed through the same typical ex- 
periences. 

A close study of the early development of the whole coun- 
try reveals the fact that there was a large stream of emigra- 
tion filtering through the county at approximately the same 
time, settling on the large land grants ; therefore one part of 
the county has not much priority over another as far as the 
early settlements are concerned. It is interesting to find that 
the nothern and eastern portion was settled as early or earlier 
than the shores of the bay and river. 

Baltimore County, like the State, had a flourishing period 
of country life when the needs of the manor house and the 
small home were supplied by the varied home industries on 
the estates. This is the colonial period of which one desires 
to make so much because it has the quality of picturesqueness 
and affords a desirable background against which all later de- 
velopments may be contrasted to advantage. It is interesting 
to note that in this period Baltimore County had no towns ; 
very few, if any, had come into existence — Joppa, Elkridgc 
Landing, Baltimore Town — these were the great centers of 
trade. Therefore few towns and villages of the present day can 
boast of colonial history. 

For this reason it is essential that the historical facts of the 
immediate environment be placed in their proper relation to the 



A FOREWORD 3 

larger community, the district and the county as a whole, for 
only in this way can an intelligent interpretation be made. This 
is perfectly obvious in the study of Catonsville and environs, 
which practically includes every town in the district, or in 
Reisterstown, with its background of Soldiers' Delight Hundred 
and Green Spring Valley. The history of any small town and 
village within the district is practically the same, barring the 
few differences within the town itself. Whatever has formed 
the past of o)ie has also been the inheritance of the other. The 
history of the distrist is the heritage of every child of that dis- 
trict. 

Further, not only is it essential to familiarize one's self with 
the history of the local community which reaches beyond the 
environs of the village, but it is also necessary to stress certain 
pertinent historic facts which are of more than local interest, 
to gain an idea of the changes through which Baltimore County 
has passed and the air of dignity which she has worn through- 
out the years. 

The material has been arranged to give the teacher a point 
of view; to give her perspective, in short, in order that the 
apparently insignificant event may assume the place it deserves. 
There has been little attempt to change the rehearsal of fact 
from the standpoint of the adult to that of the little nine year 
old; that still remains as a j^art of the teacher's magic as she 
meets her class face to face. The stories should be told in 
simple, narrative style, enhanced by pictures and other illus- 
trative material, together with visits to available spots whenever 
possible. Occasionally an old resident should be invited to give 
some reminiscences to the children. A colonial loan exhibit 
would be invaluable. Various kinds of constructive work, such 
as making candles, afford enjoyment, as well as the means by 
which to vivify and clarify what might otherwise have little 
meaning. 

Two programs, Reisterstown and Arlington, are incorpo- 
rated, illustrating the prmciple of moivation in school work. Sug- 
gestive treatment of the material from the standpoint of both the 
teacher and the pupil is presented in some detail, and indicates 
the dignity which the local h'story may assume when unified by 
untiring effort of the teacher in securing co-operation of the chil- 
dren, parents and others in the community. The task is not in- 



4 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

surmountable, though it requires thoughtful consideration of the 
subject matter, placing emphasis only upon those features which 
help to make today intelligible to the little children, for one is 
never to lose sight of the fact that the past is taught, not for the 
sake of the past, but for the sake of the present. 

While the material has been arranged in chronological order 
with the purpose of emphasizing sequence of changes which 
time hath wrought, the psychological order takes precedence 
in its presentation to children. We can never ignore the fact that 
children are primarily interested in those persons and places 
and events which are closely associated with their own meagre 
experience first of all. Concrete, firsthand experience with real 
persons, places and events are essential in developing the historic 
sense which is only gradually emerging in little Third Grade 
children, consequently it seems best to present the story of "Once 
Upon a Time in Our Town and Vicinity" before presenting "Bal- 
timore County" in any detail. The Contents aim to indicate a 
time sequence as well as to suggest the selected group of stories 
which seem properly to be the heritage of all Baltimore County 
children. The arrangement and amovnit of detail will, in each 
instance, be determined by the background of concrete experi- 
ence which can be made available to the children. 

It is desired here to express appreciation to those principals, 
grammar grade teachers and their children who have contributed 
both data and illustrations from time to time, and to that in- 
numerable host of parents and friends who have answered the 
queries of children from day to day with such unfailing courtesy. 

Grateful acknowledgment is here made to the spirit of co- 
operation which has made this compilation possible. 

Isabel Davidson. 



I 

Once Upon A Time In Our Community 

NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGES. 

Sprinj^, summer, autumn, winter — these are the changing" 
seasons of the year. In the spring all green, in the summer 
all golden, in the autumn all brown, in the \yinter all white ; 
these are the changes we note as the year rolls round. 

There are other changes which come just as quietly and 
as surely as these. You are older, larger, stronger than a year 
ago. Soon you expect to be able to match big brother in foot- 
ball or sister in a game of tennis. You are longing for the day 
to come when you will be grown up, I know, when you can 
take your place alongside your father and mother. They, too, 
are growing older. People change. Places change as time 
goes by. 

Yes, places change. You would smile if I said there are 
young rivers, old rivers ; new towns and old towns ; live towns 
and sleepy towns ; young countries and old countries, and yet 
people often speak just in this way. Countries, towns, neighbor- 
hoods, rivers, homes, persons do change as time goes by. Even 
you, as young as you are, can recall some changes which have 
come since you started to school, something that ha]-)pened last 
year, or the year before last, or even before that. 

You may remember the vacant lot where you played games 
last year ; now there is no place to play because a church has 
been erected there. I once lived in a large city where a bit of 
an old Indian trail could be traced in the park and across nearby 
vacant lots. Most of it had completely disappeared as block 
after block of city homes had been built and now I suppose there 
are no more vacant lots in that section and the old Indian trail 
is almost if not quite a thing of the past. I can remember when 
a long row of stately butternut trees stood upon our lawn. One 
by one they died, and now when I return to the old home T find 
no trace of them ; even the stumps have been removed. 

There is always a reason for the change taking place. 
Usually it is something which will improve the community or 
neighl)orhood, something that will make people more comfort- 
able in the home, or give them better opportunities for serving 
one another. Sometimes accidents, such as an earthquake, a 
big cave-in, a smoking volcano, or a tidal wave produce changes ; 



6' REAL STORIES I'ROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

but more often than otherwise changes are brought about by the 
thinking people of the community who desire to improve upon 
the past. 

A number of things have happened right here in our neigh- 
borhood since last summer. Yes, we can begin with our school, 
for some improvements are made each year which add to our 
comfort and pleasure. Next let us take a peep at our village 
housekeeping and note the advantages to the surrounding com- 
munity. Find out who has helped to bring about these changes 
and whether they are really an improvement over the old ways 
of doing things. The main roads, cross streets, and even lanes 
are improved from time to time. New methods of travel come 
into existence every now and then. Not long ago it was the 
automobile which was new ; perhaps it will be a flying machine 
next. 

An old house has just been torn down and a new one erected 
in its place. Some times we are sorry to lose these old land- 
marks, which tell us something of other days and times. Occa- 
sionally a tablet or monument is placed to mark historic spots. 
Are there any in your neighborhood ? 

Everything has a past history which you may read as an 
open book, so keep your ears and your eyes open for the story 
time has to tell. Isabel Davidson. 

OUR WELL. 

The men are busy boring vis a new well. Shall I tell you 
why? Last spring Mr. North, our principal, had some watei 
from our well tested and found that it was not safe for us to 
drink. We were very sorry, for now our new bubble fountains 
were of no use, and there was nothing that could give us 
so much pleasure as going to the fountains for a drink. Such 
an improvement over waiting at the well for the tincup to be 
passed around ! Yet here at the very beginning of the year 
we were forced to return to the use of the discarded tincup. 
All the water used in school was boiled. After being boiled it 
was put in a large tin boiler in the basement and we went there 
when we wanted a drink. 

The school commissioners are having our new well bored 
deep so we can have good water to drink. Every one will be 
glad when it is finished, for then we can use our fountains again. 
Won't it be fun to watch the water as it bubbles from the foun- 
tain? Ill Grade, Reistcrsfown. 



ONCE UPOiN A TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY 7 

SOME CHANGES ALONG THE HAREORD ROAD. 

Lauraville and Hamilton are two communities which have 
grown up along the Harford road. Our school is just between 
the two villages, and each day children may be seen going to 
and fro along this main roadway — the old Harford road. Some 
of them live in homes some distance from the main road, sb 
if you watch you will see them coming in groups of twos and 
threes from Hamilton avenue and Grindon lane, two of the old- 
est side roads leading into the main thoroughfare. Each year 
some changes or improvements are made. Here are some of 
the changes which we have noted : 

Changes along the Harford road which we can recall: 

1. Harford road has been repaired with stones and tar. 

2. A new car barn has been built. 

3. Many new buildings have been erected along the road. 

4. Jitney busses are passing back and forth daily on the 
Harford road from Baltimore to Lauraville and Hamilton. 

5. New avenues have been made leading into the main thor- 
oughfare. 

6. The road has been straightened at one point and a new 
concrete bridge built over Herring Run. 

7. Trees have been removed at some points and added at 
others. 

8. Concrete sidewalks have been laid in the towns. 

9. At certain points new electric lights have been placed, 
thus making Harford road an attractive roadway. 

/// Grade, Garrett Heights. 

CHANGES IN OUK VICINITY. , 

OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING HOWARD PARK. 

We have many new buildings in our neighborhood. The one 
we like best of all is our new Community Building. It is just 
what its name suggests, a building for the community or neigh- 
borhood. Many interesting things occur in this community cen- 
ter, or common meeting place. Let us name the different de- 
partments, all under one roof, and see if something is not pro- 
vided for everyone in the community. There is the drug store, 
where all sorts of drugs are kept in large glass bottles ; there 
is the soda fountain, where one may get a cooling drink on a 
hot summer's day ; and better than all is the candy case, which 
holds all kinds of sweets for \T)ti. In anotiicr corner of the 



8 REAL STORIES FROM BAU'IMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

building you will find the grocery store, and nearby is the lunch- 
room, where one may obtain sandwiches and a glass of milk. 
Nor is this all. This community building has playrooms for 
grown-ups, for above is the hall where dances are held, where 
musicals are given, where neighborhood plays are presented. 
Just below this large room is a pool-room and bowling alley, 
and at the rear is the fire-engine house. The buildmg was 
opened to the public October 9, 1915. Since then many neigh- 
borhood affairs have been held there. One cannot fail to see it, 
as it is a large building standing on the corner of Liberty Heights 
and Gwynn Oak avenues. 

THE LIBERTY BANK. 

The people in our neighborhood wanted a bank near their 
homes in which to keep their money. It was so much trouble 
to go to a city bank. While we were away during vacation a 
new bank was built on Liberty road near Gwynn Oak Junction. 
It is not far from our school. It is nice to have a bank in our 
community, because it gives us the air of a real town. 

One day we visited the bank. You know a bank building 
must be a stronghold, proof against fire, against burglars and 
against high winds, a place in which the money of the people will 
be safe. 

Our bank is a low brick building, one of which we may 
well be proud. Across the windows are iron bars to keep 
burglars away ; an iron gate is drawn across the outside door 
when the bank is closed for the day. Inside the bank is a large 
iron safe in which the money is placed. No one can open this 
safe except those who know the key to the combination lock. 
We peeped into the vault, but the men behind the cages were 
more interesting. One is the cashier who receives the money. 
Sometimes he is called the receiving teller. Another who gives 
out money is called the paying teller. But in our small bank 
one man does all this and is called the cashier. A bookkeeper 
keeps an account in a large bank book or ledger very much like 
your small bank book, which you must take with you when 
you wish to deposit or withdraw any money from the bank. 

Some peo])le of the neighborhood need to come some dis- 
tance, so back of tbe bank is a garage where automobiles and 
Other vehicles may stand. 

/// Grade, Howard Park, 1915. 



I ONCE UPON A TIMK IN OUR COMMUNITY ■ 9 

THE COUNTRY LONG AGO. 

Today you rode across the country in an automobile. You 
felt almost as if you were a bird so swiftly did you go. You 
can go many miles in a few minutes ! It is a pleasant way to 
make a journey ; even pleasanter than looking from a car win- 
dow, for you are out in the open air, free from dust and noise. 
Still when we take long journeys we are quite content to ride 
on trains which go swiftly and quietly. It is pleasant to ride 
through the country and look at the beautiful fields, meadows, 
woods and hills ! 

Have you been out in Green Spring Valley, in Worthing- 
ton or Dulany's Valley? Have you seen the beautiful homes 
perched like castles upon the hillsides, or caught glimpses of 
less pretentious homes in the villages and towns as you rode 
by? It all seems like a beautiful park. Here you see some 
cattle or sheep grazing on the hills, there a field of grain, there 
a woodland, there a stream or silver lake. Sometimes you wave 
your hands to little children coming home from school. Or 
you see a trolley car go whizzing by. Upon the smooth, well- 
kept roads many automobiles and jitneys pass and are soon out 
of sight. When you come into the city you enjoy watching the 
people who are hurrying to and fro. Do you wonder where 
they live and where they are going? This country of ours is a 
beautiful place in which to live, none better. 

But did you ever think that it did not always look as it 
docs now? Of course you have. You are sure it has not always 
been just as it is now, for changes are taking place all the time, 
even though some changes come slowly. Three hundred years 
ago is a long time, and a good many things can happen in three 
hundred years, you know. 

Three hundred years ago ! What would a little girl or boy 
of those days have seen? No one could have seen the country 
from a car window, nor from an automobile. There were no 
cars, no railroads, no good roads of any kinds. There were no 
farms, no towns, no houses even, such as we now see. No white 
people lived in this region, b^ar across the sea there were castles, 
the homes of brave knights and fair ladies, towns and cities 
many hundred years old. but in this land of ours — none of these 
things. 



10 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

There were great forests, beautiful rivers, wooded hills and 
mountains and wonderful lakes and bays. There were many 
wild animals such as deer, bears, wolves, squirrels, beavers and 
buffaloes roaming; the forests. Here, too, lived the Indians, 
who, like the wild animals, roamed the forests at will. 

Isabel Davidson. 

THE INDIANS OF MARYLAND. 

Instead of the pleasant town which we see now, in the 
days of long ago there were only Indian villages. In place of 
the good houses which men now build were wigwams or tents 
or rude brush huts made by the Indian women. A number of 
poles were set in the ground in a circle and made to meet at 
the top. This framework was covered with skins or rushes 
or bark of trees. In the center of the wigwam a pit was dug 
for a fire. The smoke was supposed to go out through the hole 
at the top, but often it did not, so the wigwam was a smoky, un- 
pleasant place. Still it kept oflf the chilling winds when it was 
too cold to be in the open. The Indians did not stay indoors as 
much as we do in our houses. The great forest was their home, 
and the wigwam was a sleeping place. 

The furnishings were very simple — just a few mats, some 
animal coverings, some baskets and perhaps a papoose's cradle. 
How easy they must have found moving-day, for there were 
no tables, no chairs, no beds to carry about ! 

These forest Indians moved from place to place in order 
to find food and to protect themselves from their enemies. They 
were not always friendly among themselves, for there were dif- 
ferent families, as you know. In this part of the country, right 
here where we live, there lived two great families, the Algon- 
quins and the Susquehannoughs. Each of these families was 
divided into tribes, each having a different home. We cannot 
mention them all, but some of those in our own state we would 
like to know, especially as many of our rivers and bays bear 
the names of those early tribes and clans. Listen to the Indian 
names which are our heritage from the red men who roamed 
these shores, hills and valleys. Each name had a meaning, of 
course. 

The Potomac River was named from the tribe Patawomeke, 
the name of the largest tribe living near the stream. Some say 
that the name was taken from "pethamook," an Indian word 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY II 

meaning "they are coming by water." Some others tell us that 
it meant "river of swans," but I think I Hke "Pcthamook" bet- 
ter, for the Patawomekes, no doubt, traveled in canoes up and 
down the stream along which they made their homes. 

The Chesapeake was the name of the tribe living near the 
bay, and one gives the meaning to be "mother of waters," an- 
other says that the early spelling showed that it meant a "coun- 
try on a great river." The Patapsco River flowing sluggishly into 
the Chesapeake is said to mean "back water" or having "white- 
capped waves." 

On the Eastern Shore we find the Nanticoke River, so named 
after the people along its shores, who were called "tide-water 
or seaside people ;" the Pocomoke River, "having plenty of shell- 
fish ;" the Chickahominy River, meaning "coarse pounded corn 
people." 

All of these tribes belonged to one family — the Algonqum. 
They were all peace-loving and gentle, noted for making and 
selling weapons and bowls of soapstone, which were much prized 
by other neighboring tribes. Thus they were called the Algon- 
quins or traders. 

Most of the Indians here in ^Maryland belonged to the 
.Algonquins. They were friendly to the white men who first 
came to the new land, but the Susquehannoughs were more war- 
like and stirred up trouble wherever they could among both 
white men and Indians. The Susquehanna River is named for 
this great Indian family, the fierce Susquehannoughs, who be- 
longed to the Iroquois, the fighting nation. In tlie northern part 
of Maryland lived these great warriors who would swoop down 
year after year upon the gentle Algonquins and seize their goods 
and wives. The name of Susquehannoughs means "a people 
of booty or spoil obtained in war." 

You must not think they were always fighting and roaming 
about. No, indeed, they often settled down for months at a 
time along some stream or bay and lived almost as quietly and 
peacefully as we do today, except when the fighting tribe ap- 
peared. What did they do? How did they spend their time? 

THE INDIAN WOMEN. 

The Indian women planted and tended the gardens — little 
patches of beans, corn and melons. They ]^lowcd the ground 
with a crotched stick, or rude hoe made of stone or hard wood, 



12 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

much as you do when you play at farming. However, the 
Indian women were the gardeners and the maize grew and 
ripened in these fields then as now. Of course she did the 
cooking. She knew how to grind the corn into meal and make 
a coarse Indian cake, and cook corn and beans. She knew how 
to make soup in a wooden kettle by dropping hot stones into 
the soup until it was done. She cooked the fish and game which 
the Indian brave brought home from the hunting and fishing. 
How? Can you guess? 

Of course there were no frying pans nor kettles such as 
we have. But long since they had learned to stick the dressed 
turkey or piece of meat on a stick and roast it over a fire of twigs 
on the ground. Camp Fire girls and Boy Scouts do the same 
thing today. Now, how was the fish cooked ? That was even more 
fun to watch. Stones were heated red hot and placed in a hole 
in the ground. The fish was wrapped in leaves, placed on the red 
hot stones, and then covered with hot ashes. It took a long 
time to cook a meal in this way. Don't you think the red chil- 
dren of the forest must have been glad to exchange their land 
for steel axes and knives and iron kettles? We are so used 
to seeing things made of steel and iron and silver that it is 
hard to think of a time when people did not have these metals, 
but the Indians did not have them at all. Their axes, hatchets 
and arrow heads were made of stone. You have probably found 
some in the fields and gardens around your homes. 

THE INDIAN MEN. 

While the Indian women were gardening, cooking, weav- 
ing, dressing skins, teaching the children, what were the Indian 
men doing? How did they look? What did they wear? The 
men and women were much the same in appearance and dress. 
They were copper-colored with high cheek bones, and long, 
straight black hair, worn loose by the men, and decorated with 
feathers ; and by the women in a long braid wrapped with 
beads or shells. In the days before the coming of the w^iite 
man skins were worn, ornamented with shells, beads and 
feathers. Later these were exchanged for blankets and thin 
cotton materials. Staining the face with the juice of berries 
was common among both men and women. The men loved 
nothing so much as to put on the war paint, for their chief de- 
light was to fight. They were often bitter enemies of another 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY I3 

tribe and fought most cruelly. When an Indian killed an en- 
emy he took his scalp, for the greater number of scalps in his 
belt the greater the honor paid him by his clan. Often they were 
very cruel to their captives, but a brave Indian will make no 
sign of pain. When Indians made peace with their enemies they 
smoked a peace pipe together. This was a sign of friendship 
sought by Indians and white men. 

In times of war messages were often sent to friends not in 
any such way as we use now. Can you think of ways in which they 
might indicate what they wished ? Yes ; they found a h'gh place 
that could be seen some distance away and built a fire. Some- 
times it was their des're to have the firelight carry their message ; 
sometimes it was wafted to them by the smoke. One column of 
smoke meant the success of the war party. Little columns near 
by told how many scalps were taken. Sometimes the fire was 
smothered and then allowed to go up in puffs. 

Often strange message signs were sent by a messenger as a 
snake-skin filled with arrow points, or signs made upon a piece 
of birch bark, or even upon a stone. These queer letters were 
carried by swift footed Indian runners to warn a neighboring 
camp of the approaching enemy in the days when the first white 
man sailed up our beloved Chesapeake Bay. 

Isabel Davidson. 

COMING OF rilE MRST WHITE MAN, 

OR 

CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH IN THE CHESAPEAKE, 

1608. 
The first white man to explore Chesapeake Bay was Captain 
John Smith, who came from England with a company of men 
sent out by the king. The king had granted a large tract of land 
to this company, who were called the Virginia Company, and 
they had made a settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. Captain 
John Smith was their leader, and a very good one, too, for he 
taught them how to live in this new land. 

Ca]Jtain John Smith had traveled in many strange lands and 
had done many interesting things. We would call him an ad- 
venturer, for he was always seeking something strange and 
new. So we are not surprised to learn that he wanted to find 
out about this new land into which he had come. He had made 
little trips out from the village into the forest, but wishing to 



14 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

exi:lore further, he took fourteen men in a small sailboat and 
went sailing up the Chesapeake Bay. This little sailboat fol- 
lowed the curving, sandy beaches of the "Eastern Shore." Cap- 
tain John Smith kept a diary and this is what he wrote : "The 
country is a pleasant, fertile clay soyle, some small creeks, good 
harbors for small boats, but not for ships." He passed in and 
out of every inlet looking for a harbor and a place for a home. 
Of course, he found Indians on the shores. I must tell you 
about his experiences with them. 

Chesapeake Bay is an arm of the ocean and is salt, as you 
know. The little company of men were searching for fresh 
water and they sailed up a river, now called Wicomico, after the 
tribe of Indians living on its shores. These Indians did not give 
these strange looking men a very happy welcome, it seems, for 
Smith writes : "At first and with great fury they attacked us ; 
yet, at last, with songs and dances, became very tractable. They 
gave us water, but it was such a puddle that we could not drmk 
it." Nor was this all. While sailing in and out among the 
islands along the Eastern Shore a severe storm came up. Mast 
and sail of the little craft were blown overboard, and the sailors 
toiled hard to keep the boat from sinking. When the storm was 
over they mended the torn sail as best they could and sailed to 
the mainland. But their troubles were not yet ended. A tribe 
of Indians, watching the approach of this strange little boat 
filled with palefaces, shot at them from the treetops, but their 
arrows missed and did no harm. Smith and his men paid no 
attention to them at first. The Indians were curious and tried 
to attract attention by their songs and dances. At last Captain 
Smith ordered a gun to be fired, knowing that this would scare 
them and fill them with awe, for these simple Red Men of the 
forest could think nothing else save that this was the voice of 
a new kind of god, the voice of the Great Spirit speaking to 
them in a new way. The next day they came bringing gifts to 
these "white gods,'' each one trying to out-do the other in 
serving them. 

You will like to hear what Smith thought of these Indians. 
He wrote : "They were noble warriors. One was like a giant, 
the calf of whose leg was three quarters of a yard about, and all 
the rest of his limb so answered that proportion that he seemed 
the goodliest man zve ever beheld. His hayre, the one side was 



onck; upon a time in our community 15 

long, the other shaved close, with a ridge on his crown like a 
cock's comb. His arrows were five-quarters long, headed with 
the splinters of a white crystall, like stone in form of a heart, 
an inch broad and an inch and a half more long. These he 
wore in wolf's skin at his back for his quiver, his bow in the one 
hand, and his club in the other. All were dressed in bear and 
wolf skins, wearing the skin as the Mexican his poncho, passing 
his head through a slit in the center, and letting the garment drape 
naturally around the body from the shoulders." 

Some of the men were getting tired of wandering and 
wanted to return to the little village in Virginia. They were 
tired of rowing in strange waters. They were homesick and 
hungry, especially as the water had caused the bread to become 
mouldy. But Smith wanted to find out what was on the western 
shore, so he encouraged his men tO continue the voyage, though 
the boat was turned once more toward what they called home. 

Coasting along the western shore he touched land near 
what is now Baltimore, and entered a river seven miles wide 
at its mouth. Smith and his men noticed all along the river banks 
sand mingled with yellow spangles, as if it had been gilded. ' On 
inquiring about the glittering sand the king of the Patawomekes 
gave Smith guides to conduct him up the Quiyough River and 
then marched them seven or eight miles to the mine. The In- 
dians worked the mines by digging with shells and hatchets and 
washed the dust in a nearby stream. The shining dust they put 
in small bags and sold all over the country. On their return to 
the Indian village the king gave them some white beads, as 
much prized by the Indians as gold and silver were by the whites. 

Leaving the Patawomekes and sailing down the river they 
found an abundance of fish lying so thick with their heads above 
water that they attempted to catch th.em with a frying ])an, but 
Smith says quaintly, "we found it a bad instrunient with which 
to catch fish." On the River Rapjxihanock they caught fish left 
by ebbtide with their swords. Smith happened to catch a fish 
with a beard like a saw. The sharp points i)ierced his wrist 
nnd soon his hand and arm were so swollen that his men ''with 
nnich sorrow concluded a funeral and prepared his grave in an 
island as l)y himself directed." but the doctor drew blood from 
the wound and ai)plied a healing oil. upon which Captain Smith 



i6 REAL STORIES From Baltimore county history 

so far recovered that he ate of the fish for his supper, and 
called the island Steingray Isle, after the name of the fish. The 
beaiitifyil river he called the Potomac from the name of the 
rribe Patawomeke, who entertained him so kindly. 

At the next Indian village the savages asked whom he had 
fought in war, and Smith told them that he had defeated their 
enemies, the Massawomekes. Upon hearing this they were so 
delighted that they filled the boat with corn. Then Captain 
Smith and his men decked the ship with maize and branches and 
sailed gallantly to Jamestown. Caroline Oyeman. 

HOW MARYLAND WAS NAMED. 
Henrietta Marie. 

Two years after Captain John Smith came to America and 
found a wild country peopled with savages, a little princess was 
born in the wonderful palace of the Louvre, in Paris. Her 
father was called Henri of Navarre, and her mother Marie de 
Medici. As you can see, she was named for both of them : 
Henrietta Marie de Bourbon. 

Now although a princess, and very rich and great, she was 
born in a sad and troubled time, for all of the nations were at 
war because of religion. Marie's motlier was an Italian princess, 
and a Catholic, while her father was a Protestant, or a Huegenot, 
as they were called in France. He was planning to go to war 
when she was born, and when she was only six months old he 
had her mother crowned queen of France, so that if he should 
be killed she could rule the country until the oldest boy be- 
came of age. Sad to tell, he was killed by an assassin the 
day after the crowning, and little Marie was without a father, 
and the country without a king. He had been especially fond 
of Marie, saying that she looked like him. Indeed, she was a 
bright and merry little soul, for on the day of her birth, the 
dauphin, the king's eldest son, came to see her and said, "Laugh, 
laugh, little sister ! See how she holds my hand ! Laugh, little 
dear." 

Henri, of Navarre, had not always been good to his wife, 
but he had been a wise and clever king, doing all the good he 
could for the peojile of France. His wife, however, cared 
nothing for the people and used the country's money for her 
own pleasure. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY IJ 

Little Marie, however, knew nothing of this, and hved quite 
happily with her hrothers and sisters in the Chateau de Saint 
German at the lovely summer place of Fontainhleau. She 
was not a very diligent little girl and did not like lo study, hut 
excelled in music, painting, and dancing. She said in later 
years she often wished she had studied in her youth. When she 
was about eleven years old her brother was old enough to be 
king, and the mother, Marie de Mcdeci, gave up the throne, livmg 
at St. Germain with the little Marie. When eleven years old. 
]\Iaric was invited by her brother to the Court at the Louvre. 
At this time Marie was a very pretty little girl with dark 
curls and large dark 'eyes. Her brother decided that it would 
be well to have her marry an English Prince, for then England 
w'ould be his ally. So he sent an ambassador to England, but 
the English King refused, because he wanted his son to marry 
the little pri/icess of Spain. However, there was trouble be- 
tween England and Spain at that time, so it was agreed that the 
little ]\Iarie should marry Prince Charles I, of England. 

In the meantime, the Duke of Buckingham had visited Paris 
and attended some theatricals, in which the little princess danced 
most gracefully. He had written to Prince Charles of little 
Marie's beauty, grace and sweetness, and he was willing to ac- 
cept the plan. So it was arranged, and the little Marie, only 
fifteen years old, went to England to become the wife of the 
young Charles. 

He loved her at first sight, kissed and caressed her, and wel- 
comed her as a beautiful playmate. For a short time they 
were quite happy. But the king was Protestant, and Marie 
was a Catholic, so little quarrels arose. She had promised her 
mother to keep her own religion, and also to help the English 
Catholics. Marie's French and Catholic servants made trouble 
between the little queen and the king. Marie was but a spoilt, 
homesick little girl, and the king, only a spoilt boy. He sent all 
her French servants home. But by and by this king and queen 
learned to love each other dearly and were never happy away 
from each other. 

The people of England learned also to love their queen, 
Henrietta Mane, and when the grant of land, now our State, was 
given to Lord Baltimore by King Charles I, they said : ''Let us 
name this goodly land Maryland, after our beloved queen." 



[8 



REAL STORIES From BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 



For twelve years she had a very happy time at the English 
Court. People loved her for her heauty and goodness ; and be- 
cause he loved her, King Charles was kind to both Catholics and 
Protestants. 

Soon, however, troubles came. The people of England 
fought against the king, and the poor queen had to flee across 
the English Channel to Europe. There she tried hard to raise 
money to send to her husband until he was taken prisoner and 
executed. Poor Henrietta Marie nearly died of grief, for she 
loved the king dearly. She was very poor, too, too poor to nave 
a fire in her room for her four year old daughter Henrietta. 
But the king of France was her nephew and he gave her a 
beautiful house called Chaillot, where she founded a nunnery and 
lived for many years with the good sisters. Later on, the 
English people became tired of Cromwell, who had taken the 
throne, and they asked Henrietta's oldest son, Charles H, to 
become their king. Henrietta was very glad because of this, 
and went to England to visit her son. The English people were 
very kind to her and she stayed until the doctor ordered her to 
go back to the warm, sunny land of France. So back she came 
and there in France she died and was buried. Her heart is kept 
in a casket at her beloved nunnery at Chaillot. She, who in 
life was called, "La reune malheurse" — "the unhappy queen," 
was given a grand funeral, and many solemn masses were sung 
for the repose of her soul. 

Caroline Oyeman. 




II 

Once Upon A Time In Baltimore County 

1659. 

THE CHANGING BOUNDARY LINE. 

There was a time when all this beautiful country 'round 
about us, which we know as Baltimore County, had no such name. 
The Indians whom Captain John Smith found in his exploring 
and adventuring in 1608, knew this only as the land of plenty 
and of sunshine where they roamed at will. Nor did any white 
man know it by the name it bears today, until 1659, when a very 
large tract, yes, very, very large, was named Baltimore, after 
Lord Baltimore, who first came into the State of Maryland to 
found a colony like the one at Jamestown or the one at Plymouth. 

Baltimore County was then so large that it was almost like 
a small state, for at that time the eastern boundary reached 
across the Chesapeake. It would have taken one some time to 
walk out of the county, no matter in which direction he went, 
for all of Harford, Carroll, large portions of Anne Arundel, 
Howard and Frederick, and likely Cecil and Kent, have been 
cut ofif from the tract of land known as Baltimore County. Not 
all at once, of course. At that early day boundary lines did not 
trouble anyone very much, neighbors were so very far a^^art, 
and no one questioned boundaries, because every one could have 
all the land he wanted without interfering with his neighbor. 

It is not until nearly twenty years later, after the County 
is named, that there is any mention of a boundary line ; but in 
1674. a proclamation declares that the southern bounds of Balti- 
more County "shall be the south side of the Patapsco River and 
from the highest plantation on that side of the river due south 
two miles into the woods." 

Thirty years later, to be exact, in 1659, a boundary line was 
drawn between y\nne Arundel and Baltimore County, and in 
1725 the present boundary was established. In 1748. Frederick 
County was formed; in 1674, Cecil was erected; in 1774, Har- 
ford sought a separation, and in 1835, Carroll County, named 
after Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, came into its own. 

Baltimore Citv. at one time a part of the County, sought 
independence in 1854, and since that time has secured tracts 
of land from the County to increase her area. Thus, you sec. 



20 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Baltimore County looks upon her sister communities with more 
than usual interest, for in the good old "Once Upon a Time" 
days they all had one name in common — Baltimore. 

Whatever may have been the date of the first settlers in 
Baltimore County, it is certain that the earliest comers drifted in 
from the surrounding settlements, particularly from Delaware 
and Pennsylvania on the northeast, and Virginia on the south. 
By and by you will learn that border troubles arose between 
Pennsylvania and Maryland, and many Pennsylvanians came 
across the line ; the same thing happened in Delaware between the 
Dutch and Swedes. They, too, getting tired of quarreling, 
sought out new homes in the forest to the west. Others canic 
directly from England for the same reason — quarreling at home. 

Thus we see that Baltimore County, like the state, became 
the home of those from all nations who sought peace and com- 
fort and quiet. 

The emigration was by way of the present town of Elkton, 
now in Cecil County. This explains why the center of popula- 
tion centered around the first county-seat on the Bush River, now 
in Harford County, and even when the county-seat was removed 
to Joppa, not far away, we learn that after the lapse of half a 
century the tide had not changed very much, for the northern 
and eastern parts were still the most thickly settled portions. 
THE EARLY PIONEERS. 

The men who led this march, the pioneers as they were 
called, were bold, hardy men, brave in times of danger and ready 
for nny adventure. They were good hunters ; the wives, too, were 
as brave as they, and together they lived an open life in the 
wilderness. 

Can you imagine the journey? It would not be a very hard 
matter for you to move from your home in Baltimore County 
to a new home across the border into Ohio or Pennsylvania. 
The railroad could carry you there in a few hours, not only 
you, but all your belongings, cows, horses, furniture, and every- 
thing you possess. You would find a comfortable home at the 
other end of the road. But not so in those days. When the 
Swedes came from Delaware, the Quakers from Pennsylvania, 
the Dutch from New York, there were no roads, only Indian 
trials leading through the forest, no one knew quite where. 
The woods were full of bears and wolves, wild-cats and squirrels, 



once; upon a time: in Baltimore; county 21 

and Indians roaming everywhere. Even the settlers, had they 
come any distance, looked like Indians themselves, as they often 
dressed in the hlouse of deer-skin, leather leggings, and moc- 
casins. They were dressed for camp life. These were camping 
days in earnest. A spot near a stream or spring was chosen for 
the camp. The supper was cooked over the open fire, then 
wrapping up in warm blankets v/ith feet to the fire, they lay 
down to sleep until the early twitter of birds awakened them and 
the new^ day began, full of new surprises. When the place for 
a home was chosen, work began in real earnest. There were no 
open fields around then, only trees, trees, everywhere. These 
were truly pioneer days. They lived chiefly by hunting and 
fishing, much as the Indians did. The game they ate and the 
skins they traded at the nearest settlement where they went to 
exchange them for groceries, cloth, powder, ball and shot, and 
other things needed in the pioneer household. 

Here is an account written about six months after the first 
settlement : 

"The temper of the ay re is very good and agrees well with 
all the English, as appeared at their first coming, when they had 
no houses to shelter them and their people were not enforced, 
not only to labor in the day, but to watch in their turns at night, 
yet had their healths exceedingly well. The timber of these parts 
is very good and abundant ; it is useful for building houses and 
ships. 

Of strawberries there are plenty, which are ripe in April, 
mulberries in May, raspberries in June, maracocks, which is 
something like limon, are ripe in August. In the spring are 
several sorts of herbs, such as corn-sallet, violets, sorrell, pur- 
slane — all of which are very good and wholesome, and by the 
English used for sallet and in broth." What could have been 
daintier than to eat spring violets in the broth, or to serve up 
a salad of violets with "sallet oyle?" This was, in truth, a dainty 
dish to set before a queen. 

They found the country well stored with corn, since maize 
or Indian corn was raised by the Indians, who seeing that they 
did not know how to prepare it, taught them to make bread of 
it, also a meal which they call "oment." Are you surprised to 
learn that the art of making good old-fashioned corn pone and 
hominy was a gift from the Indian women rather than the negro 
mammy? I am. 



22 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

The houses were of log, usually one room with a large 
fireplace at one end with, perhaps, a loft in which to store away 
some things, or to sleep, if there were many children in the 
household. I imagine the trundle bed as well as the wall beds 
were used by these thrifty and ingenious pioneers. Every one 
who came, rich and poor alike, were farmers at first. Even 
those who had a trade, the carpenters, shoemakers, and black- 
smiths cultivated the fields and gardens, for food and shelter 
were counted among the first things and tilling the soil assured 
one of a living. 

COLONIAL TIMES. 

You must know that many of the people who came to 
Baltimore County received grants of land from the king through 
Lord Baltimore. This was one means used to encourage settlers 
to come to the colony. A man v/ho could afford to bring only 
himself and his wife received a small farm. Those well-to-do 
received larger grants. Passano tells us : "Thus one of the 
early laws passed in the colony said that a manor should be 
granted to any one who could bring with him from England 
twenty abled-bodied men, each armed with a musket, a sword and 
a belt, a bandelier and flask, ten pounds of powder, and forty 
pounds of bullets and shots." ]\Iany grants contained one thous- 
and acres, and a few as much as twenty thousand acres. Just 
think of the size of the estates ! These large grants were called 
manors. Each of these farms, estates and manors had to pay 
a small sum annually as rent to the king through Lord Baltimore. 

Manors. 

You have all heard an estate called a manor, I am sure. 
As we ride about the country we are shown "My Lady's Manor," 
"Clynmalira Manor," "Bond Manor," and others. 

Do you know what a manor was? It was a little colony 
that governed itself very much as our own little village governs 
itself. Of course, the owner of the estate had to obey Lord 
Baltimore's laws, just as we do the laws of the county and of the 
State. The "Lord of the Manor" was an important personage 
in the colony, just as he had been in England, though no one 
thought of calling him lord, I am glad to say. These titles were 
dropped upon coming to the new world. 

The manor house was large and comfortable, and the furnish- 
ings of the best, brought from dear old England. Nearby was the 
chapel where the family went to service along with all the ser- 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 2T, 

vants on the estate. Around the manor house were the barns, 
the stables, the quarters for the slaves. Of course there had io 
be many servants to keep everything up in style. Some distance 
away were the small houses for the tenant-farmers. On the 
stream or river bank was the mill where the wheat and corn 
were ground into flour for family use. Not so far away was the 
blacksmith shop, for you must know that everything needed by 
the household could be raised and made on this manor. No, 
not cjuite everything, for these early colonists were always glad 
when the ship came in bringin_g English goods. 

It was not long, how-ever, before practically every article of 
daily use was made. The very spoons were molded from pewter, 
and the candles which shed their soft light from the brackets 
on the walls were made in the candle molds which were still 
being used fifty years ago in some parts of the country. yVmong 
other quaint relics one occasionally sees a spoon mold, but never 
a fork, and we conclude that our Colonial dames daily demon- 
strated the old saying "fingers were made before forks" as did 
good Queen Bess. These were the days, too, when the spinning 
wheel and loom began to hum in the household, when the linen 
and cotton made at home equalled the best and the women were 
proud of wearing homes]:)un. With the passing of the slave, 
the growth of towns, and factory life, all this vanished as if 
by magic. 

Candle ]\Iaking Days. 
"Wife, make thine own candle. 
Spare penny to handle. 

Provide for thy tallow ere frost cometh in, 
And make thine own candle before winter begin." 

Rhyme of tJie Sixteenth Century. 

In these days when it is so easy to jiress the button and have 
bright electric lights on the instant there is danger that the story 
of kerosene and gas may be forgotten. There is even more 
danger that the tallow dip of our grandmothers may be forgotten. 
Candle-making was the great housekeeping event in the fall of 
the year. Perhaps one should say, one of the events, for there 
were so many that were important in the life of the household. 
No candles, no lights. The light and cheer of the long winter 
evenings depended upon the candles which were made and stored 
away in boxes for family use. 



24 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Candle-making day ! What fun for the children when the 
great brass kettle was brought out and hung upon the crane in 
the huge fireplace, where the great logs crackled and blazed upon 
the hearth ! Every one was astir before dawn of day. No 
sleepy heads on that day, nor any day, for that matter. The 
kettle was first partly filled with water, and when hot cakes of 
tallow were broken into bits and thrown into the water to melt, 
you know what happened. Water and tallow will not mix, so the 
tallow floated on top. Into the mixture was added some beeswax, 
or bayberry tallow, to give the candles hardness. Some people 
think bayberry candles have a pleasanter odor than others. 

All candles must have wicks. The wicks had been cut the 
night before, dipped in salt-petre and twisted over wooden rods 
kept for the purpose year after year. Each rod held six or 
eight wicks, and the wicks were of two to three inches apart. 
These rods were laid across two poles supported by chairs. 
Now for the dipping. 

The kettle was taken from the crane and set down near the 
poles. The good wife began to work. Taking the first rod she 
dipped the wicks deftly into the kettles and watched to see that 
each wick hung straight and clear of the others, and so she went 
down the line to the last rod. By the time this was done, t\vi 
first rod had hardened and it was ready to be dipped again. She 
repeated the dipping until the candles had grown a proper size. 
If more candles were needed the kettle was filled again with 
boiling water and melted tallow. 

You will be glad to know that the little folks were remem- 
bered on candle day. There were always a number of rods with 
tiny candles to be given to the children as rewards of merit. 
When the children had been very good they were given a candle to 
light them to bed. I suppose otherwise they went to bed in the 
dark or, perhaps, with mother's big candle, which was not quite 
the same as one of their own. As long as the tiny candle lasted 
they could tell ghost stories or fairy tales. What fun it must 
have been ! 

It took a whole day to finish the candles. They were left 
to harden over night and the next day were packed away, hard 
and white, all ready for use. 

Those were the days when the little folks repeated the old 
Mother Goose rhyme as older sister or mother or grandmother 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 25 

went about with the candle snuffers and kept the candles trimmed 
bright : 

Little Nannie Nettie Coat 

Has a white j)etticoat 

And a red nose. 

The longer she stands 

The shorter she grows. 

MASTER AND SERVANT. 

Upon these large estates there were also those who were 
called servants, but wlio held a very different position from the 
negro slave. The owner was the "master ;" the man who was 
bound or apprenticed to work for him was called a "servant." 
This meant a man apprenticed for a period of four years to 
serve on the estate. Some very good men in England wanted 
to con:e to this country so much that ihey were willing to come 
as indentured servants, as they were called. It was a very cheap 
way to get to the new world, as they worked out the cost of 
their passage after they arrived. They knew they would not 
always have to call some one master, and they looked forward 
to the day when they would be free. 

There was one man, George Alsop, whose name you may 
be able to remember as one of these indentured servants. He 
has left an account of the early days in the provinces and gives 
us some hints of his own life. He appears to have been the son 
of parents in moderate circumstances in London, and was ap- 
prenticed to some trade or handicraft for two years. He prcl)- 
ably did not like his master, for he writes that he was "aweary 
of the life in smoky London," that he was "wilde and confused" 
upon hearing of the country across the sea and longed to come 
to Maryland. Having no money he signed an agreement or in- 
denture to work out his passage by service in the province. So 
AlsoD served his four years in the service of Thomas Stockett 
of Baltimore County, who, from all we can learn, must have 
been a kind and generous master. He writes a most interesting 
account of his life in this new country. He liked the green 
woods, the open fields, the good food and the work was to his 
liking. 

I don'i suppose he ever had cause to run away as some of 
them must have had, for in the papers of that day appeared 
such advertisements as these : 



26 RKAI, STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"Indentured Servants. Coffee House, Norfolk, Va., Dec. 7, 
1784. $30 reward. 

Run away from the subscriber ; the following indentured 
Irish Servant : viz, Edward Alden, from Londonery, passes for 
a cook, of low stature, is remarkably knock-kneed. 

Pat Corkins, a barber from Limerick, 5 ft. 8 in., has a 
remarkable cut on his forehead, speaks much in the Irish dia- 
lect. Tliey both have knee breeches, a London blue coat with 
two pockets on each side. The reward will be given to secure 
them in gaol so that I may get them again. 

Adam Lindsay." 

Those working in the tobacco fields often had a hard time 
of it, no douJDt, and to escape these hardships was the purpose 
of the runaways. But even though there were no telephone': 
or telegraph lines to reach them quickly, the runaways were 
usually brought back at short notice. Help was needed on all 
the farms and estates. Later the slaves were welcomed in Balti- 
more County as elsewhere to assist in the work on large farms 
and plantations. For the most part these slaves were well 
treated by their masters. In reading the newspapers of that 
early day we are constantly coming upon advertisements of slaves 
for sale. This all sounds very strange to us now, but it helps 
us to understand those early times. 

MONEY AND TRADE. 

In the early days of the colony we might say they "had 
money to burn," for tobacco took the place of money in all 
transactions, as there was very little coin in use. Some Engli.sh 
money was handled, but for the most part tobacco was the me- 
dium of exchange. 

The three articles of trade in the colony were "tobacco, 
furs and flesh." To think that tobacco was once the principal 
product raised in these same fields where we now raise corn 
and wlieat and rye is almost beyond belief, but such was the 
case. When the ships came in from England they brought silks, 
serges and broadcloths to be exchanged for tobacco. The New 
England traders carried away many barrels of pork, which fact 
tells us a story, too. 

ENTERTAINMENT. 

You must know that these early comers lived well and en- 
tertained their friends in a hospitable manner. It seems that 



ONCE UPON A TIMK IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 27 

the favorite drink all over the province and therefore in this 
county as well was punch. A traveler in 1746 speaks much of 
persimmon beer, flavored with cassona, probably winter green. 
Of the fare in the humbler homes he writes : "Mush and 
milk, or molasses, hominy, wild fowl and fish of every kind are 
their principal diet. You drink from a gourd or calabash, the 
finest water ever found, and the cake-baking upon the hearth, 
the great cleanliness everywhere makes you think of the golden 
age, the time of ancient frugality and purity." (Jan you not 
see them busy at the out-of-door oven or swinging the crane 
in the great fireplace? And the simple feasting in the dining 
room or great room of the house? In the wealthier homes the 
fare was richer and more varied, but not more hospitably served. 
*\Ve can understand how all this high life in Maryland was 
possible, when we read that John Beale Bordley made nine 
hundred pounds on a single shipment of wheat to Barcelona. 
Farming was at that time, both in Maryland and Virginia, a 
paying business. Everybody farmed and money was easily made. 
They were tempted to live beyond their means. Fortunes were 
often lost and hard times were felt by many. About the time of 
the Revolution this grand life gradually went to pieces. 

The Bordleys were among the highest livers and have left 
interesting memoirs. Stephen Bordley kej^t bachelor's hall in 
Annapolis, with a cellar full of wine, handsome plate, furniture 
and linen and a good library. Fie enjoyed a good income from 
his practice at the bar, and held important offices. The judges 
dined with him whenever they came to Annapolis, everybody 
dined with him and he died of the gout, like a hero. 

His younger brother, John Beale Bordley, thought it neces- 
sary to call a halt in this life, so went to live at Joppa, and be- 
came a fox-hvmting planter, raising a large family and growing 
rich. But half of Wye Island was left to him, and there he set 
u]) a grand establishment, making his own flour, beer and liricks, 
weaving cloth for his peo])lc. having his own carpenters, black- 
smiths and coopers, and even manufacturing his own salt. Vis- 
itors came to him, passing to and fro on the island, sometimes 
ai)pearing in a ten-oared barge rowed by slaves, some of them 
staying all winter — the Tilghmans, Flollidays, Lloyds, Pacas. 
Hay wards, Elakes, Browns and Flindmans. Baskets of fruit 
stood in the hallway, with tankards of sangarec and lemon ])uiich. 



28 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

and everybody dressed for dinner in the ruffles and gorgeous- 
ness of the period." 

Does this give you some idea of the high hfe in the great 
house on the manor? I am sure it helps you to picture it. 

COLONIAL DRESS. 

You can also picture to yourself the costumes worn by both 
men and women, for there are many pictures of that early day 
to help you. A coat sometimes of bright, oftener of sober 
colors, the broad skirts stiffened with buckram, with great cuffs 
thrown back to display the ruffles at the wrist; the waistcoat 
with great flaps reaching halfway to the knee ; breeches of vel- 
vet, plush or corduroy or buckskin and for full dress a sword. 
The cocked hat was considered the mark of a gentleman, and 
when in full dress he usually carried it under his arm. The 
Quakers alone would not wear the cocked hat, saying that the 
brim was used to shade the face, but if turned of no use at all, 
so they wore their beavers flat. 

The cocked hat of whatever style, whether plain or trimmed 
with lace, surmounted the wig, which was varied by the wearer 
according to his taste, rank or occupation. The wigmaker was 
an important man in those days. Here is an advertisement: 
"Mr. Ward, peruke maker, at the sign of the White Peruke, 
west end of Baltimore Town, who imports hair and furnishes 
his customers with all kinds of full-dress wigs, such as coun- 
cilors' tye wigs, parsons' and lawyers' bobwigs, cut and scratch 
bobwigs, scratch and pomatumed cue-wigs." Gentlemen from 
the country sent their measures and had their wigs made to 
order, just as the men give an order to the tailor for a suit of 
clothes today. 

The ladies wore gowns according to their means, made of 
velvet, flowered silk brocade or calimanco, fashioned in the style 
of that day. Little girls and boys were dressed in the exact 
counterpart of father and mother and were thought to be just 
as sweet and dainty in their garb as children of the present day. 

WILLS. 
Mrs. Hester Dorsey Richardson in "Side Lights on Mary- 
land History" writes most interestingly of the wills of the early 
Colonial period thus: "The wills of the early Colonial period 
give us not only glimpses of the wardrobe of a lady at that 
time, but throw charming sidelights on the furnishings of a 



ONCE UPON A Tl.MK IN BALTIMORE) COUNTY 29 

Colonial home. In a typical will of a Colonial dame who died 
about 1665 she leaves her taffeta suit and serge coat to her step- 
daughter, Teresa ; also her fine linen, her hoods and her scarfs, 
excejjt the great one, and her three petticoats, the tufted Hol- 
land one, the new serge and the spangled one. To her three 
boys she leaves 'that great scarf and all her plate, her jewels 
and rings, except the wedding ring, which goes to Teresa. To 
Thomas, the Indian servant, two pairs of shoes and a match 
coat. To her stepsons she leaves an ell of taflfeta." 

Just what a yard and a quarter of silk was to two boys 
does not appear at this writing, but no doubt it had its uses 
to the young "macaronies" of that day. 

In numerovis wills we find bequests of nails, brass kettles 
and other household utensils, along with the "plate of the 
house." that came this year out of England." 

"In the days when the gentlemen wore white hair wigs of 
flowing proportions they w-ere obliged to carry their cocked 
gold-laced hats under their arms. They willed these costly im- 
portations with other personalities. Indeed, as late as the nine- 
teenth century a Baltimore gentleman of the old school be- 
queathed his red-hair wig and false teeth to his faithful old 
black body-servant, who it is said proudly arrayed himself in 
these memorial tokens and wore them ever afterwards." 

^ SPORTS. 

Fox-hunting seemed to be a favorite sport with the people, 
men and women alike. Many a high-bred dame rode in the 
chase upon her spirited* mount with as much skill as her more 
daring brother. Every Colonial woman could sit a Horse as 
firmly as she could a rocking-chair, since this was the easiest 
mode of travel through the bridle paths. 

Another source of amusement was found in fairs, which 
were held in Baltimore at an early period until shortly before 
the Revolution. These were neighborly sort of aflfairs j^atterned 
after the English fashion of that period. 

y\t these fairs all sorts of games were indulged in by the 
people, just such sports as are enjoyed today, sack-races, potato 
races, climbing greased poles, horse-racing, cock-fighting, chasing 
a pig with a soaped tail and manv other funny sports. 

PUNISHMENTS. 

Sometimes wrong acts were committed, and punishment 
must be meted out to the offender. In those days punishments 



30 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

for crime were most severe in the old world as well as the new. 
We find the people in Maryland no exception to the rule or 
custom of the time. Many of their pvmishments were cruel even 
though the crime was slight. People were imprisoned for debt 
and for minor offences against the laws of the province. Other 
punishments were banishment, that is, being aeiit out of the 
settlement ; boring through the tongue with a red-hot iron, slit- 
ting the nose, cutting off one or both ears, whipping, branding 
with a red-hot iron in the hand or on the forehead the initial let- 
ter of the offence for which the person was punished and "flog- 
ging at the cart's tail," all of them full of disgrace. In this last 
instance the criminal was tied to the end of a cart and flogged 
while the cart was driven slowly through the town. In various 
parts of the country whipping trees are still pointed out to us. 
How glad we are that they are unable to tell us of some of the 
happenings under their wide-spreading branches. 

In 1748 an old gray-haired man had his tongue bored through 
until he paid a fine of twenty pounds or $100 as punishment for 
blasphemy. We are glad we did not live in those days, are 
we not? 

BRITISH CONSULATE. 

"The Refuge of an English Exile, 125 years ago." 
More than a century ago a British gentleman and soldier 
was banished from England, and he sought his refuge withrn 
a stone's throw of Baltimore. He was allowed to sail for these 
shores with the understanding of the British courts that he 
was to be lashed for one-half hour on a certain day of every 
remaining year of his life. The banished one was under careful 
watch of the British government, and the severe penalty im- 
posed by the court was carried out. 

Although this was more than a century ago, yet two ]\Iary- 
landers who witnessed some of the beatings are still living. 
The thrashings were brutal in the extreme, yet the exile stood 
them unflinchingly and insisted that they be imposed, as the order 
of the court could not be evaded. 

The eye-witnesses to the "beatings" are Thomas James 
McGill, eighty-six years old, 1 16 E. Montgomery street, through 
whom the story came to light at this late day, and a colored 
servant. Marguerite Riley, 90 years old, who lives within a 
shadow of where her master, the exile, was lashed to a tree 



ONCK UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 31 

to receive the penalty of the covirt. The lash was a])plied with- 
out mercy, and the body of the exile was torn to ribbons, on 
these occasions. The exile was no other than the brother of 
William Dawson, who is said to be the first English consul for 
the Maryland district, and who built the historic English Consul 
residence on the old Annapolis State road, in the Thirteenth dis- 
trict of Baltimore County. 

The story of the exiled one was told by himself to Mr. 
McGill, who was then a lad of twelve years. 

McGill's father had a farm near the Dawson mansion, and 
it was the duty of young AfcGill to pass by the historic place 
every day on his way to get spring water. He became acnuaint^d 
with the exile, who was a bachelor, and who craved youthful 
company. One day, while seated under the tall, massive oak, 
to which he was bound to receive the order of court, Dawson 
imparted the history of his life to young McGill, but was care- 
ful not to divulge the reason he was banished from England. 
Dawson was then about fifty years old. "My son," said Davv- 
son, "there is a day approaching that is the saddest day in the 
vear for me. I hope on that day that you will take another route 
for your water. You are but a boy and I cannot explain to you 
my secret, other than to tell you that I am an exile from my 
mother country, and I am to be lashed within a few days for a 
wrong that I committed in defense of my own honor." 

Continuing the exile said : "Through my parents' influence 
I was allowed to come to this country, but only with the under- 
standing that I should be lashed every year. That day is ap- 
proaching and I will pay a part of the penalty." 

Young McGill's curiosity was aroused and he watched the 
Dawson mansion closely. Sure enough, about two weeks later 
he saw the exile bound securely to a tree, and the executioner 
of his sentence a])plying the lash with all of his vigor. The 
man who was putting on the lashes so unrelentingly was no other 
than McGill's own cousin, William Hawkes, who was paid $5.00 
for doing the whipping. The exile shrieked with pain, yet he 
called to his castigator to keep applying the lash for the speci- 
fied time. Dawson had many slaves, but they refused ihe task 
of beating their master, even when threatened with death. I'or 
nearly ten years McGill witnessed the scene of Dawson receiv- 
ing his sentence. The Dawson mansion is one of the most his- 



52 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

toric buildings in the State. It was built for the exile's brother 
more than a century ago, and today it is in a good state of pres- 
ervation. The old building is of typical Colonial design, and 
every piece of material used in its construction was imported 
from England. Each of the 17 rooms in the mansion is fitted 
out with fine gray Italian marble mantelpieces and open fire- 
places made of heavy brownstone. The ceilings of 'all of the 
rooms are adorned with masterpieces of stucco work, and the 
solid silver door knobs and plates which were installed in the 
house at the time of its erection are still on the premises. 

In the spacious dining room one of the first ovens built 
in this state by Henry Reip, who was then located at 8 Paca 
street, is 5till in good condition. Mahogany ban.isters and rail- 
ings abound throughout the entire house, and the heavy walnut 
floors and stairways do not show the least sign of wear. The 
mansion is equipped with a wine cellar and quaint old lockers 
that, when closed by their heavy doors, are as impregnable as 
a fortress. The doors of th.e building are of seasoned oak and 
five inches thick. The shutters of the mansion disapnear in the 
walls. 

The house has a frontage of 90 feet and a depth of 50 feet, 
the rooms being divided so that each one will front on a side of 
the house, afifording a good view over the farm and giving plenty 
of light. An old suit of heavy armor, found in the wine cellar 
about fifty years ago, is now in possession of Colonel Franklin, 
of the British Army, who was a relative of Dawson. 

The oak tree to which Dawson was lashed for his beatings 
still stands, and is one of the largest in the state, measuring 15 
feet 10 inches around the trunk, reaching to a height of 175 feet. 
A large grove of oak, birch and sweet honey -bean trees surround 
the old mansion. 

The old Dawson mansion is now owned by Otto Unger, 
private secretary to Collector of Customs William A. Stone. The 
historic home, once the retreat of two polished gentlemen, who 
lived in seclusion, is' now being used as a modem home, and the 
fields that were formerly worked by a score of slaves are now 
the recreation centre for a large and happy family. 

Jennie Ruhl. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 33 

STAGE COACH DAYS. 

TAVERNS AND INNS. 

When tobacco was king all roads led to Joppa, the principal 
county-town, until Baltimore Town stole her trade away. Let 
us for a few moments wander down these old roads — Joppa, Old 
Court Road, York Pike, Franklin Pike and others — and stop 
at some of the old taverns along the way. 

In stage coach days inns and taverns sprang up like magic 
on all the main thoroughfares and scattered throughout the 
county are the ruins of these old hostelries, or upon their sites 
other buildings have risen- with other purposes to suit their times. 
As you read the history of Reisterstown you find that "Forney's" 
was a jolly tavern of its day, not only serving the travelers from 
Philadelphia, York and Baltimore, but also became a ]50i)ular 
resort for the gay folk from the city. Here, I have no doubt, 
Betsy Patterson and her friends made merry upon occasion. 
Then there was the famous "Red Lion Tavern," near Cowenton, 
built after the fashion of the English inns of the seventeenth 
century, where it is said that General Washington stopped dur- 
ing the war. Out on the Johnnycake Road one may be shown 
the site of the toothsome tavern of that day, known far and wide 
for its excellent johnny-cake, so 'tis said. Indeed, in each neigh- 
borhood some incident relating to these early stopping places is 
still told as sidelights on local history. One of the most famed 
was the "Old Fountain Inn" in Baltimore, which stood on the 
site of the Carrollton Hotel, German and Light streets. 

The Old Fountain Inn was on three historic occasions the 
stopping place of George Washington on his visits here. On 
Mav 5, 1775, he lodged there on his journey to Philadelphia as 
a delegate from Virginia to the Second International Congress; 
on September 8, 1781, on his way to the reduction of Yorktown. 
and on April 17, 1789, when proceeding as President-elect to his 
inauguration at New York. 

Before the fire of 1904 the site of the old inn was occupied 
by the Carrollton Hotel and here Chai)ter 1 of the Colonial Dames 
had erected a tablet as a gift to the city in commemoration of 
Washinc'ton's three visits. It reads as follows: 



34 REAL STORIES EROM BAI/riMORK COUNTY HISTORY 

This Site 

Was Formerly Occupied by 

The Fountain Inn, 

Where 

General George Washington 

Lodged upon the following 

Memorable Occasions : 

May 5, 1775 — On his journey to Philadelphia as a delegate 
from Virginia to the Second International Congress. 

September 8, 1781 — On his way to the reduction of York- 
town. 

April 11, 1789, when proceeding as President-elect to his 
Inauguration at New York. 

NOTES From Hamilton's itinerarium. 

The following notes taken from Hamilton's Itinerarium, 
1744, show something of the conditions of travel as we follow 
his route through Baltimore County. (Alexander Hamilton was 
a resident of Annapolis, Md.) 

Annapolis, Wednesday, May 30th. I set out from Annapo- 
lis, in Maryland, upon Wednesday, the 30th of May, at eleven 
o'clock in the morning. 

Mr. H , a gentleman of Barbadoes, with whom I ex- 
pected to have the pleasure of traveling a good part of my in- 
tended journey, had left Annapolis a week or ten days before 
me, and had appointed to meet me at Philadelphia. He went 
to Bohemia liy water and then took the chaise over land to New- 
castle and Wilmington, being forced for certain reasons to travel 
on horseback. 

lliursday, May 31st — I got up betimes this morning. 

A little before I reached Patapsco Ferry I was overtaken 
by a certain captain of a tobacco ship, whose name I know not, 
nor did I inquire concerning it, lest he should think me imper- 
tinent. 

Patapsco Ferry. 
We crossed the Ferry together at ten o'clock. He talked 
inveterately against the clerg^^ and particularly the Maryland 
clerks of the holy cloth ; but I soon found that he was a preju- 
diced person, for it seems that he had lately been cheated by one 
of our parsons. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 35 

Baltimore Toicnc, Gunpowder Ferry, 
Joppa. 

These men accompanied me to Baltimore Towne and after 
I parted with him I had a soHtary journey till I came within 
three miles of Gunpowder Ferry, where I met one Matthew 
Baker, a horse-jockey. 

Crossing the Ferry I came to Jopj^a, a village j^leasantly 
situated, and lying close upon the river ; there I called at one 
Brown's, who keeps a good tavern in a large hrick house. The 
landlord was ill with intermittent fevers, and understanding from 
some one there who knew me that I professed physick, he asked 
my advice, which I gave him. 

Leaving Joppa 1 fell in company with one Captain Waters 

and with Mr. D. gs, a virtuose in Botany. He affected some 

knowledge of Natural Philosophy, hut his learning was super- 
ficial. 

After parting with this company I put up at one Trade- 
away's, about ten miles from Joppa. The road there is pretty 
hilly, stony and full of small gravel. I observed a stone, which 
I thought looked like limestone. 

GOING TO CHURCH IN COLONIAL DAYS. 

ST; GEORGE'S PARISjH. 
(Now in Harford County) 

You may wonder why the story of St. George's Parish need 
be told, since it is no longer in Baltimore County. As far as one 
is able to judge, it is the first parish established in the county, 
and this occurred in the days when Baltimore County extended 
over much more area than at present. So St. George's Parish 
is older than Sater's, or St. Thomas', or Mt. Paran. 

The date of its beginning is set about 1671, not so many 
years after the first white man appeared in the county, you sec. 
It is thought the first church was erected at Old Baltimore on 
the P>ush Piver. which was then the county-seat, as early as 
1683. .Some others think that it must have been built nearb\ 
at a place called Gravelly, about two miles east of Bush River, 
because at this point is a bridge called Church Bridge, and traces 
of an old graveyard are still to be seen. But no matter about 
that. It is certain that there was no minister in ihe county until 
1675, for in that \ear one Christian gentleman offered 500 acres. 



36 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

called "Stokely Manor," to the first Protestant minister who 
would settle in the county. 

Now where was Stokely Manor? Not so far from Joppa 
and only six or seven miles from the Bay. The first church was 
built of logs, as were nearly all of the buildings of tha.t early 
day. A minister came from Calvert County to Baltimore County 
and undertook the large field in which he was the first Protestant 
laborer. You must not forget that the Catholics under Lord 
Baltimore had established churches in other places, but when 
the government of the province passed out of the hands of Lord 
Baltimore into the hands of a Protestant convention, naturally 
Protestant churches began to spring up in different sections of 
the county. The new Royal Governor at once directed that the 
Church of England should be the church of the province. 

Of course churches have to be supported by the people, and 
they solved the difficulty at that time by dividing the ten coun- 
ties of the province into parishes, imposing a tax of 40 pounds 
each of tobacco upon every man and his servant, whether a 
member of the church or not. They were called taxables, and 
the tax did not pass directly into the hands of the church war- 
dens, but to the sheriff, who distributed it to the churches. In 
St. George's Parish there were at that time about 1500 taxables, 
which would furnish 6000 pounds of tobacco or about $150.00 
with which to meet expenses. St. George's was considered a 
rich and prosperous parish when compared with others of the 
province, but we need to remember that money or its equivalent 
was not such an important factor in life as it is now. 

What can we learn from this? First, that the tobacco was 
raised in abundance in these very fields where we now raise 
wheat, corn and rye. Second, that little money flowed in that 
day. Third, that these early settlers were God-fearing people 
who sought to worship as had their fathers and mothers before 
them in the old home in England. Fourth, that though the waters 
of the Atlantic separated them from England, they were still 
loyal to the king and queen — were, in fact, English colonists, 
never dreaming of a time to come when they or their children 
might be proud to be known as loyal Americans. 

Isabel Davidson. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 37 

COUNTY SEATS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY. 

The first county court was held at the home of Captain 
Thomas Howell, in the year 1661, within the limits of what is 
now Cecil County. 

The first county seat, known as Old Baltimore, was located 
on Bush river. It is not known exactly where the town was 
located or when it was begun, but this town on Bush river was 
already the county seat, when it was made a "port of entry" 
in 1683. 

The courthouse on Bush river was abandoned sometime 
between 1683 and 1707, and a second one built on the Gun- 
powder river, at a place called Foster's Neck. 

In 1707 the Assembly of Maryland passed an Act directing 
that the courthouse at Foster's Neck "should be deserted and 
that fifty acres of land, in a tract on the Gunpowder river, be- 
longing to Anne Felks, called Taylor's Choice, should be erected 
into a town and the courthouse of the county built there. This 
town was afterwards known as Joppa. The commissioners ap- 
pointed to build the new courthouse at Taylor's Choice com- 
menced the work before getting the Queen's consent. The build- 
ing was nearly finished, when word came across the ocean that 
Her Majesty, Queen Anne, had vetoed the Act of 1707. In 1712 
an Act was passed entitled "An Act for settling Baltimore County 
Court at the New House at Joppa." This Act declares, "That 
Baltimore County Court shall be held at the courthouse, now 
built at the town of Joppa." 

In 1724 a tract of 20 acres of land at Joppa was laid out 
into 40 lots, to be erected into a town. All of the lots were 
taken up and the names of the lot holders are preserved to this 
day. 

Joppa at once became a great commercial center. No doubt 
the one thing that had most to do with its growth was a law 
which provided that every ])erson who should bring tobacco to 
Joppa, to ])ay a debt, should be allowed a discount of 10 per 
cent, on the bill. This law was intended to draw trade to the 
now County seat. Joppa became a great tobacco market, which 
meant a great deal in the days when to])acco was King, taking 
the place of money in the trade of the colonies. 

In order to get the tobacco to the County seat, it was 
packed in hogsheads and a pin fastened in each end, to which 



38 RKAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

loophole shafts were attached and fastened to the collar of the 
horse. The grower "rolled" his load to town, and from this the 
roads used were called "rolling roads." Many roads still keep 
the old name. These roads poured great quantities of tobacco 
into Joppa, and commerce was established with the West Indies 
and Europe. 

The County seat remained at Joppa until 1768 — about 56 
years — when, by an Act of the Assembly, it was removed to 
"Baltimore Town." From that time may be dated the "Decline 
and Fall of Joppa." The old courthouse was sold and aH that 
remains to remind us of the town are the many "Joppa Roads ' 
wliich were used by the people of those bygone days to attend 
court at the County seat and to roll their tobacco over to market. 
So complete has been the decay of old Joppa, that at this day 
there is no sign left of the houses or wharves that once were in 
the most important town of the State. 

The land that marked its busy streets and ended at the water 
front, where the ships loaded their cargoes fi-om the wharves, 
is now a cultivated farm. In the orchard on the farm are the 
cellars and four foundations of the ancient courthouse, St. John's 
Church, the jail, taverns and stores. A few yards away stood the 
gallows tree, the whipping post and the stocks. Along the shores 
of the Gunpowder at this day are seen huge piles of stone, the re- 
mains of the foundations of the wharves and warehouses of the 
Joppa of long ago. 

When Baltimore Town became ihe County seat it ])rospered 
and increased in ]:>o])ulation and in trade. 

The County seat remained at "Baltimore Town" from 1768 
until 1854, when the city and county separated. 

During this period the courthouse was located on the site 
of the Battle Monument. Mr. Robert Gilmor says this court- 
house stood on a hill sixty or a hundred feet above the level of 
the basin, and about thirty or forty feet above the level of the 
present pavement. 

When the city and county separated, in 1854, Towsontown 
was selected by the voters of the county for the Covmty seat. 

In March, 1854, a board of commissioners was a])pointed 
to select which of the sites oflfered should be taken for the 
county buildings. It was also to decide the plan of buildings 
and materials for same. Henry B. Chew, Benjamin N. Payne, 



ONCE UPON A TIME IX BALTIMORE COUNTY 39 

and Grafton M. Bosley had each agreed to give for the erection 
of a courthouse and jail, a lot of ground of not less than five 
acres in Towsontown or its vicinity. Ihe commissioners decided 
to take the lot oifered by Dr. Grafton M. Bosley. 

Dr. Bosley, by deed, dated August 26, 1854, conveyed of 
land to the commissioners of Baltimore County for the purpose 
of erecting a courthouse and jail for Baltimore County. 

The cornerstone of the courthouse was laid on October 19, 
1854, in the presence of a large gathering from city and county. 

The cornerstone contained a tin box, in which was put the 
constitution of the state, a list of the national and state officers, 
an account of the separation of city and county, a life of General 
Towson, an account of the population of Towsontown, a copy 
of each of the newspapers of city and county, a collection of 
coins, and various documents. 

The first session of the County Court was held in the new 
courthouse, Monday, January 5, 1857. 

Towsontown, now called Towson, gets its name from the 
Towson family who, in the early days of the county, kept the 
Towson Tavern. 

Towson has caught the spirit of progress and now has a 
population of over 2,500. It is developing rapidly and is well 
worthy the honor of being the County Seat. 

With the rapid growth of Baltimore County, a larger court- 
house was needed, and in 1910 the Legislature authorized the 
commissioners to undertake the work. The contract for the 
work was awarded to the David M. Andrews Company, of Balti- 
more City, for $150,000. The work of the commissioners, as 
well as the contractor, has met with public a]>proval, and no one 
in the county begrudges the money spent in the improvement. 

Nellye M. Gorsucli. 

COUNTY FAIRS. 

Did you ever go to a County Fair? Fvery one goes — 
mother, father, children ! They go early in the morning and 
stay all day, taking their lunch with them. What is there to 
see? First of all, your neighbors and friends, for this is a jolly 
time for old and young alike. Everything the county produces 
is here; fruits of the farm and orchard, grains of the field, 
vegetables and flowers of the garden, manufactures ot the mills 



40 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

and factories and products of the household. Every housewife 
vies with every other in making jelhes, bread, cake and pies; 
fancy work, the product of busy fingers — quiUs in the olden 
time — now, laces, embroidery and useful articles grace the tables. 
There is much to see, much to be proud of in Floral Hall, in 
Horticultural Hall and in the Machinery Building. 

Farmers strive to show the best products of the field ; house- 
wives strive to show their skill in household arts ; shopkeepers 
vie with each other to show the first and best the market affords ; 
new inventions are shown which are of interest to many, but 
the best of all are the horses, cows, sheep, pigs and poultry 
Each animal knows somehow that it is there for a purpose and 
with its owner wears an air of importance as if it merited the 
blue ribbon award. You know everything is entered with the 
hope that it may receive the first, second or third prize indi- 
cated by blue, red and yellow ribbon. Some prizes offered cover 
a sum of money worth competing for. At some fairs children 
enter their garden products or their handiwork and happy is 
the girl or boy who carries off a prize. Every one praises the 
work of the winner and rejoices with him when the prize has 
been fairly awarded by the judges, v/ho try to pass the fairest 
judgment possible upon each article entered. 

Nor is this all. There is usually horse-racing in which the 
test of skill is shown. Many people are interested in seeing 
fine horses try their skill in swiftness against each other. It 
is like a game of athletics among the larger boys. The horses 
seem to know and love the game and both horse and rider try 
very hard to win the cup. A band plays and the sound of music 
stirs the crowd. As the bugle sounds olif the horses start racing 
around a mile-track as hard as they can go. Every one becomes 
excited as one horse after another drops behind and when the 
winning horse passes the goal every one cheers a mighty cheer. 

Where are these fairs held? Our agricultural fair grounds 
are now at Timonium, but they have not always been there. The 
first agricultural fair was held on the grounds of John Eager 
Howard on Greene street, in the town of Baltimore, which was 
then in the county. This was in 1752. More attention was given 
to horse-racing than to anything else. Later in 1786 the "Mary- 
land Agricultural Society" was organized and provided for an 
exhibit of the products of the state. The fair began then to 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 4I 

take on a most interesting character. Fine breeds of cattle, 
horses and pigs were shown ; machinery — plows of the latest 
invention, a threshing machine worked by hand, wheat fans, a 
straw cutter and many other farm implements were exhibited. 
Samples of wheat from Smyrna and Russia; barley from Eng- 
land and butter, cheese and cereals of every kind from the home 
markets were shown. In most respects it was cjuite like an 
English fair of that century. There were rustic sports of all 
kinds, as climbing a greased pole, sack races, relay races and 
other laughable amusements. Punch and Judy shows, and the 
like, delighted young and old as well. The little tents pitched 
here and there were filled with mystery. But it was not until 
later that the pop-corn and lemonade stands added to the gayety. 
Nowadays it is the merry-go-round with its never-ceasing grind 
of music that calls "Come and ride !" to every youngster who 
enters the fair grounds. Once it was "Lemonade ! Lemonade ! 
Nice pink lemonade ! Come, drink it in the shade !" that lured us. 

After a time the people of the county decided it was time 
to have a fair of their own as w^ell as to take part in the State 
Fair. The first meeting of the Baltimore County Association 
was held at Govanstown in October, 1861, but the first fair was 
held at Fairmount Gardens, the second, at Carroll s Woods, near 
the present location of the Mount Clare shops of the B. & O. 
R. R. Pimlico had been chosen as the place to hold the State 
Fair, but after a time interest began to wane and the grounds 
were leased to the Maryland Jockey Club. At the present time 
one may see horse-racing upon the Pimlico race course for the 
sport still continues. 

The Baltimore County Association needing to find a new- 
home for the annual exhibit of county products Timonium was 
chosen, and today, should you decide to go to the County Fair, 
it is to Timonium that you go, reaching there by automobile, 
trolley, carriage or train, just as you choose. 

Isobel Davidson. 

MY LADY'S MANOR. 

• 

In the tenth district are some of the most attractive land- 
.scapes the country affords. Monkton, White Hall, Glencoe, 
Sunnybrook. and Phoenix are the villages that dot the country- 
side, peeping out as they do from behind high hills and almost 



42 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

lost to view among the fine old trees. While each village has a 
charm of its own which cannot be denied, it is the country which 
allures us, not only with its beauty found in hill and dale and 
well-kept fields, but also its early history. Even the names 
"Clynmalira Manor," "My Lady's Manor" lend a kind of en- 
chantment to the atmosphere, and you ask "Whence the names 
that fall so pleasantly u])on the ear?" 

Hunting among the ancient rent rolls of Baltimore County, 
when Lord Baltimore was the Lord Proprietor of the Province 
of Maryland, we find the name of Carroll listed among the im- 
portant land grants. A Charles Carroll came to Maryland in 
1688, and being a good friend of Lord Baltimore and serving the 
province well, the latter granted him a large tract of land in 
recognition of his services. Some of these grants were in Balti- 
more County, one received in 1695, named "Litterluna," and 
another in 1705, named "Clynmalira," both so named in memory 
of the ancestral estates in Ireland. "My Lady's Manor" was 
also laid out under the direction of Charles Carroll. Containing 
only 1,000 acres, while the others counted 5,000 acres or more, 
this tract must have seemed small and of little consequence to the 
land steward. Its boundaries were marked by a stone on the 
western bounds on the farm of Mr. Curry, while the eastern 
bounds lay near Corbett Station. It was devised to "My Lady," 
and designated "Lord Baltimore's' gift. I cannot find out who 
the "Lady" was, but undoubtedly it was the wife of Charles 
Carroll. I do find, however, that the tenants paid one barrel 
corn as annual rent. 

The first settlement on the manor was made in 1690. Among 
the early settlers came David Stewart and Aquilla Anderson, 
also the Slades from Ireland. David Stewart received a grant 
of land from Lord Baltimore, and of this W^illiam Slade received 
160 acres and Aquilla Anderson 340 acres. It was then an un- 
broken forest, occupied by Indians, wild beasts and game. 

David Stewart settled on the land now known as "Linden 
Hope Farm," and owned by Harry Ross Hutchins, who inherited 
it from his father, the late Henry B. Hutchins, who was at one 
time a treasurer of Baltimore County. Two daughters of David 
Stewart are buried on this farm. The old gravestones give the 
date of their death as 1789. At this present time no descendants 
of the Stewart family live on the manor. 



ONCE UPON A TIMK IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 43 

William Slade built and conducted a tavern. Imagine a house 
with foundation walls three feet thick ; but those early pioneers 
found it necessary to protect themselves against both the Indians 
and wild animals of the surrounding forest. The old Slade tav- 
ern, as it was called, was built in the colonial period. On the first 
floor was the bar-room and the famous ball-room, where the 
balls of the manor took place. In war times and other times of 
danger the ladies hid their beautiful jewelry under a loose board 
in the old ball-room. Many of the pieces of jewelry are still 
treasured among relatives and friends in the comnuuiity. 

This old tavern was situated on the old York Road, across 
from the manor store. This road formed a part ot the great 
Eastern Highway — a post-road that led to York, thence to 
Philadelphia and New York. The stage coaches changed horses 
at this old inn and the travelers refreshed themselves within its 
hospitable walls. It is said that Washington and Lafayette were 
entertained here during the Reovlution. The tavern was kept 
by Slades until 1785, and was finally torn down in 19 — to make 
room for the present home of Mrs. Melville T. Pearce."^* 

In the great hall of the old inn stood a grandfather clock, 
which warned the guests and members of the family of the 
passing hours. This old clock is still in possession of the de- 
scendants of the Slade family. 

Another family proud of their land grant from Lord Balti- 
more is that of the Hutchins. They were among the early set- 
tlers, coming to Sweet Air about 1680. Mr. Ross Hutchins, now 
of Washington, D. C, has in his possession a document in the 
form of a land grant from "Charles Calvert, Lord Proprietor of 
the Province of Maryland, also Baron of Baltimore," to Thomas 
Hutchins, of Baltimore County, for three hundred tracts of land, 
lying between the Great Trails and Little brails, which was granted 
to Thomas Hutchins and his heirs, to have and to hold forever, 
paying thereto the sum of 12 shillings rent, to be twice a year at 
the City of St. Mary's, or at any other place Lord Baltimore 
shoulrl direct." The whole Ijcars the signature of Charles Calvert, 
also the Calvert Seal and the date, April 3, 1725. You will be 
interested to know that this same seal is used today on all state 
documents. 

The Pearce family, of whom there arc many descendants 
on the manor today, was established by six brothers who came 



44 REAI, STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

from Wales in 1764. The Bacon, Curtis, Sparks, Sheppard, 
Holmes and Howard families settled about the middle of the 
18th century. Mr. Oliver M. Hutchins has a grant given his 
ancestors by the Continental Government in 1780. At this time 
the people of the colonies were fighting for their liberty, and 
this shows that they saw victory not far in the distance for the 
young republic, the United vStates of America. "The good old 
days" of the colonial period soon gave way to rapid changes in 
farming, modes of travel, in the household, ni both city and 
country life. 

You must remember that on all the manors of any size 
there grew up a colony, composed of the gentler folk of the 
great house, the tenant farmers of the estate, and the large 
retinue of servants. Naturally we wonder where they went to 
church, to school, and the nearest port at which they gathered 
for the news from the great outside world. (See Manor Life 
in Baltimore County.) 

In the days when My Lady's Manor, Cylnmalira Manor, and 
others flourished, we know that tobacco was raised in great 
abundance. Barrels of the "soft-weed," as it was called, were 
rolled over the roads to Joppa, then a seaport town of some im- 
portance. Jop]:;a was not so far away from the Manor. Indeed, 
this was the center of the life in the county at that time. It was 
here that the people gathered to hear the news from England, the 
beloved mother country, as well as from neighboring communi- 
ties. (See County Seats for the story of Joppa.) 
The Churches. 

At first the ])eople on the Manor attended church at Joppa, 
but as early as 1750 we find in the records a plan to establish a 
"chapel of ease, in the forks of Gunpowder, in the parish of 
St. John's," afterwards called St. James' parish. St. John's was 
the mother of this little church on the Manor, which was called 
St. James' Episcopal Church. St. James', on the Manor, was 
built in 1752, and still stands as a landmark of the past. 

During the Revolutionary War, when Baltimore was yet a 
village, and by no means as important as Joppa, there was no 
suitable building in which to store powder, so it was hauled out in 
ox-carts and stored in St. James' Church on the Manor. Thus 
you see, St. James became an improvised powder magazine for 
one year, during which time an armed guard was kept around 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 



45 



the church to protect its store. Of course no sei vices were held 
in the church during this time, at which some of the parishioners 
grumbled. 

One of the early schools in the county stood in one corner 
of this old churchyard. It was called St. James' Academy, a 
name commonly given to all church schools at that time. The 
bricks of which it was built are now in the belfry of the church. 

This site was selected because it was on the watershed be- 
tween the Little and Great Gunpowder Falls. The ground was 
■given by the Slades and in its churchyard sleep many of the 
earliest settlers of Baltimore County. There are a number of 
graves of Revolutionary soldiers. Their remains were found 
while excavating for an addition to the church, and now they rest 
in the shadow of the old church. The written records of St. 
James' date from 1810. 

Olive M. Smith and Lula Hunter. 




Ill 

Once Upon A Time In Baltimore Town 

Possibly you have heard your father or mother sjieak of the 
great fire in Bakimore in the year 1904. A spark in a cellar 
became a square mile of flame; fifteen hundred buildings went 
down, leaving black ruin behind. You have recently been in 
Baltimore and you saw no signs of such disaster anywhere, for 
the simple reason that the city has grown again, fresh and new, 
from its ashes. But how many of you know how many years 
it took Baltimore to grow into the great city it is today? One 
hundred and eighty six ; almost 200 years. 

In the early days of the Maryland Colony, the scattered 
settlers were attracted by the fertility of the soil to the lands 
of the upper Chesapeake. "The old province of Maryland rested 
upon tobacco and, perhaps, Baltimore owed its existence to the 
same plant. All the business transactions of that period began 
and ended in tobacco. The taxes were paid in tobacco, the 
clergy were paid in tobacco, wives were bargained for — -in 
tobacco, so tobacco was — king." Now tobacco is bulky, and 
every planter sought to get a port as near his own door as pos- 
sible. So the people in this section asked the Legislature to give 
them a place for tobacco warehouses and a custom house at 
"Spring Gardens." This meant that the ships would be stopping 
here at this wharf rather than at Joppa. But even before that 
time a settlement had been begun on the site of what is now 
Baltimore City. 

In 1662, Charles Gorsuch secured 80 acres from Lord Balti- 
more, situated back of Fort AIcHenry, known as Whatstone 
Point. He was Baltimore's first citizen, if we go back to be- 
ginnings. In 1661, a man named David Jones had surveyed 50 
acres of land along the stream which now hears his name. In 
1682 he built the first house on the site of Baltimore where Jones' 
Falls joins the river. He was Baltimore's "first resident," on 
Charles Carroll's land. 

You have not forgotten that Charles Carroll was the chief 
land steward and secretary to Lord Baltimore, and received 
many grants of land as a reward for his services. So you will 
not be surprised to learn that much of the swamp and the wooded 
area farther inland belonged to the Carrolls. Portions of this 
land were sold to different people as time went by. 



ONCIC UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE TOWN 47 

In 1726, this small settlement comprised one mill, two houses, 
and three tobacco barns, straggling among the marshes. The 
ships off North Point, fifteen miles away, took cargoes of tobacco 
to England. This distance was too great, thought these tobacco 
planters, and they sought to have a town nearby. This was in 
1730. They bought 60 acres of Charles and Daniel Carroll for 
forty shillings per acre, and laid it out, naming the town Balti- 
more, in honor of Lord Baltimore. There were two streets, 
Long Street, later called Market Street, and Calvert Street, one 
running aong the waterfront, the other running into the coun- 
try and to the wooded hills, known as "Howard's Woods,'" where 
the W'ashington monument now stands. 

The town grew slowly at first. Aroiuid it was a "high 
wooden fence," a little higher than a man's head, with a large 
entrance for carriages and a smaller one for foot passengers. 
Old St. Paul's formed a part of this city wall. Mosquitoes and 
malaria were bred in this swamp, and drove settlers away. 

THE COUNTY SEAT IN COLONIAL DAYS. 

At the end of 20 years it had only twenty houses and one 
hundred inhabitants. You have already heard much of Joppa, 
the ancient county seat. Now that Baltimore Town began to 
make a little stir on the Patapsco, it was decided to change the 
county seat to this bustling place, so in 1767 a brick coiulhouse 
was built near Jones' Falls, on Calvert Street. Just as once 
every road led to Jo])i)a, so now everyone traveled to the new 
county seat to transact business affairs. The Revolutionary War 
gave Baltimore 1"nwn a start, and from that time it became the 
town of promif^e. 

J. P. Kennedy writes thus: "It was a treat to see this little 
Baltimore Town just at the termination of the War of In- 
dei)endence — so conceited — bustling and debonair — growing up 
like a chubby, saucy boy, with his dimpling cheeks, and short, 
grinning face, fat and mischievous, bursting out of his clothes in 
spite of all his allowance of tucks and broad selvages. Market 
Street shot like a snake out of its toy box as far as Sharp and 
Baltimore Streets, with its line of low-browed, hopped roof 
wooden houses. .Some of these were painted blue and white, 
some yellow, and here and there were mansions of brick with 
windows like a nuiltiplication table. In front of the houses were 
lr)cust trees, undrr whose shade school bovs and ragged negroes 
disvorted themselves at marbles." 



40 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Picture to yourselves the scene in Colonial days. Men stroll 
leisurely down the street — Market Street — in long, blue coat and 
brass buttons. The coat collars rise high in the back and almost 
hide the ever-present wig, while in front, the ruffled shirt and 
stock are showing. A big, broad beaver is taken off with a 
sweeping bow when a lady passes. Some still wear the silver 
buckles and knee breeches, but those days have long since passed 
away. Those were the days when there was no telephone, no 
wireless, no telegraph, to carry messages in every direction. 
Ships came into the harbor unannounced. When a ship sailed 
away, the merchant knew it might well be a year before he heard 
of her again, for ships were dependent upon wind and tide in 
those days. As you know, the steamship had not yet been in- 
vented. Still the fastest ships afloat were the "Baltimore Clip- 
pers" sailing out from the harbor at Baltimore Town. 

Some quaint swinging signs might be seen along the street, 
telling the wares of the quaint shop ; great wooden keys, boots, 
bells and anchors, and tobacco signs swung in the wind. Read 
the signs as you pass and smile at their quaintness, viz. : "Ward, 
the Peruke Maker," "The Old Fountain Inn," "The Tobacconist," 
etc. 

"In Baltimore both taverns and signs were many and varied, 
from the Three Loggerheads to the Indian Queen with its "two 
hundred guest rooms, with a bell in every room, and the Fountain 
Inn, built around a shady court, with galleries on every story, 
like the Tabard Inn at South wark." 

The shopkeepers lived over the stores as a usual thing. 
In the street were trees to give comfortable shade. The street 
was quiet except on market days or when ships came in. Then 
there was chatter enough, you may be sure. But there were no 
horse cars, no clanging bells, no honks of the automobile. People 
rode in carriages or on horseback, but most of them walked. 
There were gas lights, for Baltimore was the first city in the 
United States to manufacture gas for public lighting. 

In 1773 a small newspaper was published, and an attempt 
was made to start a public library, but the venture failed. 

The War of Independence. 
This was just a short time before the War of Independence 
was begun. It is too long a story to tell you all now, but you can. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE TOWN ,1.9 

perhaps, understand that the mother country, England, did not 
quite understand her Colonial children. A foolish king would not 
listen to wise men at home and in the colonies, and made many 
foolish mistakes. He needed money to run home affairs and 
thought the hest way to get it was to tax the colonies, which he 
did witliout asking tiiem anythnig about it. A great many thinking 
people in the colonies did not like to be treated so unfairly, still 
they loved their mother country and wished to do everything 
she asked. Others were angered, ready to fight for their rights. 
So the Maryland colony drank no English tea and went without 
salt just as others did. 

Baltimore, being a seaport town, soon spread the news and 
the country was soon filled with the war spirit. Every man 
became a soldier ready to fight for his country, and Baltimore 
County did its share in sending brave men to the front. It was 
during this war that Washington traveled through the county and 
the city, stopping at some of the inns and taverns of that day. 
We know that he stopped at the Old Fountain Inn, at German 
and Baltimore Streets — nothing left now to mark the spot where 
so much hospitality was dispensed, save a bronze tablet upon the 
present building. 

A EAMOUS VISITOR. 

It was after this war that Baltimore was honored with a 
visit from La Fayette, the French gentleman and commander 
who did so much to help us gain our independence. Here is a 
letter of invitation and his reply whicli I am sure you will like 
to read. They were published in the ^Maryland Gazette, Septem- 
ber 3, 1784. 

Maryland Gazette. 

September 3, 1784. 
To Major-General, the Marquis de La Fayette : 

While the citizens of Baltimore embrace the present oc- 
casion of expressing their pleasure in again seeing you among 
them, they feel the liveliest emotions of gratitude for the many 
services you have rendered their country ; they can never forget 
the early period in which you engaged in our cause, — they es- 
pecially shall never cease to remember that the safety of their 
town is owing to those superior military virtues which you so 
conspicuously dis])layed against a formidable enemy in Virginia ; 
but your love for this country has not terminated with the war — 
you have laid u-^ under new obligations by your successful repre- 



50 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

sentations to free trade. ... To that proposed veneration and 
gratitude which we entertain, we have only to add our most 
sincere wishes that you may long enjoy that glory. 

In the name and behalf of citizens of Baltimore, we have 
the honor to be your most obedient and most humble servants. 

John Smith, 
Samuel Purviance, 
James Calhoun, 
Tench Tilghman, 
Nicholas Rogers. 
The IMarquis de La Fayette then returned the following 
answer : 
Gentlemen : 

Your affectionate welcome makes me feel doubly happy in 
this visit, and I heartily enjoy the flourishing situation in which 
I find the town of Baltimore. 

Your friendly washes to me, gentlemen, are sincerely re- 
turned, and I shall ever rejoice in every public and private 
advantage that may attend the citizens of Baltimore. 

With every sentiment of affectionate regard, I have the honor 
to be, gentlemen, 

Your obedient and humble servant. 

La Fayette. 
Lexington Market. 
Another interesting event following this war, and of a very 
different nature, was the opening of the public market, in 1782, 
on Colonel Howard's estate. This was the beginning of Lex- 
ington Market, and when you walk in the market viewing 
fruits from all parts of the world, vegetables from nearby farms, 
you can remember that it was at one time on a large estate and 
probably at the edge of Howard's Woods, as that part of the 
town was then called. 

Another War. 
Though we won our independence and were no longer Eng- 
lish, but little American children, England was still angry and 
could not forget that once we had belonged to her, so she did 
not propose to lets our ships sail the seas. But the American 
spirit had grown and we thought the ocean just as free to us as 
to English vessels. Still the result of all this quarreling was 
another war, called the War of 1812, about which you will learn 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN BALTIMORE TOWN 5I 

something later. The story of Fort Mcllenry and of the Battle 
of North I'oint helong to this time. 

Monuments. 

As you ride about the city today you see many monuments 
erected in the memory of some brave man or an event worthy of 
remembrance. There is the Washington Monument in Washing- 
ton Square, the Battle of North Point Monument in front of the 
Postoffice, Francis Scott Key Monument on Eutaw- Place, in 
memory of our national song writer, and in a little churchyard 
is a small monument to Edgar Allan Foe, who was the best 
story-writer for grown-ups the world has yet known. 

Churches. 

Many chiuxhes are found throughout the city, Init the one 
in which our interest centers is old St. Paul's. The outlet in 
the old city for pedestrians was just at the back of this old church. 
At first many residents of the county came into Baltimore Town 
to church, but later chapels were established in different spots to 
accommodate the "forest inhabitants," as the people of Gar- 
rison Forest, St. Thomas', My Lady's Manor, were called. 
Persons and Events. 

It was in Baltimore that the cornerstone of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad was laid by Charles Carroll, but a year later an 
even more important event ^took place, the opening of the first 
public school in the basement of a church on Eutaw Street. The 
first teacher was William H. Coffin. This marked the begin- 
ning when knowledge should be within the reach of all. Some 
names you will ahvays connect with the city are Johns Flopkins, 
that eccentric old Quaker w^hose millions made possible the hos- 
pital and the university bearing his name ; John McDonough, who 
founded a school for orphan boys in the county ; George Pea- 
body, who gave an institute devoted to music. There are others 
whom we delight to honor — John Eager Howard, Harry Gilmor, 
Francis Scott Key. Some day you will learn why. 

Adapted, Olh'ia 0. Osborne. 

THE FIRE. 
It was a blowy, windy March morning, but the little town of 
Baltimore seemed so quiet as to be almost asleep. From sixty 
or more frame houses the morning smoke blew away into the 
blue air and from old St. Paul's on the hill the bell rang out 
the call to worship. In the harbor the white sailed ships rocked 
in the fresh spring breezes. 



52 REAL, STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Suddenly a cry rang out — "Fire ! fire ! fire !" 

Out from the houses ran the people, "Where? where?" they 
cried. 

"It is neighbor Johnson's house on Market Street," came 
the answer. 

Quickly the people gathered. Thick clouds of black smoke 
puffed forth from the chimney, little curls of smoke sprang from 
the roof. 

"Bring all your buckets," cried Mr. Jones, and under his 
direction the people formed a line from the town pump, near 
the Franklin Inn, on what is now Light Street. Luckily the 
pump was near the burning house and men pumped in turn 
passing full buckets up the line of people, while the women 
passed down the empty ones. Willing men climbed to the roof 
and poured water on the fire, but the flames roared fiercely and 
the people watched with fearful eyes and anxious hearts. 

Then came a new fear. "The wind is rising," cried one ; 
"See the sparks flying and our homes are all of frame," cried 
another. "Suppose the whole Baltimore Town should go!" cried 
a third. 

Quickly neighboring houses were drenched with water, but 
the wind carried the sparks high overhead. All eyes were turned 
to the two warehouses, down at the harbor, for in them lay 
stored the tobacco which was the wealth of the little town. 

"What shall we do?" cried the people. "What shall we do?" 
"Let us pray !" said the old minister, and all paused for a mo- 
ment to join in the hearty words of prayer, then back they went 
to fight fire once more. 

This time they succeeded in quenching the flames, all the 
more quickly as the wind had fallen, and, at last, with thankful 
hearts they realized that Baltimore Town was saved. Worship 
was late that day, but never was a service so well attended or 
the church so filled with thankful worshippers. 

Caroline Oyenmn. 



IV 

Once Upon A Time In Our Town and Vicinity 

GREEN SPRING VALLEY. 

IN*. THE DAYS Oif THE REDMEN. 

Unlike the southern part of the State we find few remain- 
ing evidences of Indian life in the beautiful section known as the 
Green Spring Valley with the Ridge overlooking it. The shell 
heaps, pieces of broken pottery, Indian graves and other tokens 
found so frequently in Southern Maryland are unknown here. 
But in the springtime when the plowboy turns the sod occasion- 
ally white stone arrow heads and other small trophies come into 
the range of the watchful eye. In connection with the history 
of a very old church in this vicinity we read that "Indian tents 
surrounded it ;" so with these proofs we know that all about 
us in Baltimore County the Red Man once made his home. 

Let us picture the land as a great forest with here and there 
a spot of clear land. In the clearing and on the edge of the 
forest are strange-looking tents. We go nearer and find the 
home of the Red Man and his family. There are many such 
wigwams all about, but let us look now at this one. It is like 
a bundle of poles tied together at the top, spread out at the 
bottom and covered over with deerskin. A \')\ece of deerskin 
pulled aside forms the doorway. It is so dark and smoky in- 
side the wigwam we cannot see just what is there. But we know 
there is no furniture, only some skins stretched on stakes to 
form a bed, and perhaps not even this, for Indian friends sleep 
mostly upon the ground under the open sky. The mild climate 
of Maryland encouraged this habit. 

We hear a strange grinding noise, and there, just outside 
the wigwam, sits a squaw with long, straight ])lack hair stream- 
ing over shoulders or a braid bound with a band of beads, a 
short skirt of deerskin, beaded moccasins on her feet. What is 
she doing? Between two heavy stones she pounds some grains 
of corn into coarse meal. This is to make the corn pone, which 
a little later the pioneer housewives also learned to make with 
such skill, and it was from the Indian women they learned the 
art. This corn pone is baked upon a board before the onen fire, 
turning first one side then the other to the blaze until it is brown. 
So our Indian mother not only grinds, but she also bakes the 
bread for the evening meal. She will have some fish, too, for 



54 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

here comes a stalwart brave, bow and arrow flung across his 
back, fishing pole in hand and. silently drops down a string of 
fish beside his squaw, then lazily throws himself upon the grass 
to smoke. He has spent this day as he spends most other days, 
in fishing and hunting. And thus pass most of his days, save 
when at war with his neighbor, or his enemy when the fight is 
bitter. 

But the squaw — what does she do all day long? It is she 
who plants the corn and tends it with a crude digging stick. It 
is she who builds the wigwam and drags the heavy skins and 
poles from place to place when moving. It is she, too, who 
prepares the skins and makes the clothing for her brave and her 
children. And more — the baskets in which to gather berries, to 
carry the meal, to keep the dry roots, the jars in which to carry 
water — these she made with her own hands. She was busy all 
day long looking after the wants of her household. She had 
time for a smile as she passed the little papoose as it swung in 
its cradle from the branches of a tree or sat against a tree near 
by. Indian babies never cry. Cold, hungry? Yes, sometimes. 
But that made no difference. From the earliest days of baby- 
hood they learn to be brave, to bear pain without a murmur. 

Let us look at the children for a moment. IMany wigwams 
about ; many children of all ages and sizes are running about, 
too. Little Indian children are happy, though they do not laugh 
and gurgle and coo when babies, nor giggle and simper when 
older. They always appear very sober and quiet. The larger 
boys have gone out with their fathers to learn to shoot and solve 
the mysteries of the forest. When a boy is old enough to do 
this he has entered the advanced class in his school life, for all 
his lessons are learned in nature's school with the birds, bees, 
flow^ers, trees in the changing seasons, the animals of the forest, 
his playmates, his father and his mother as his teachers. The 
younger ones look forward eagerly to the day when they, too, 
will be allowed to join the braves in hunting and story-telling, 
for what hunter does not like to recite the story of his brave 
deeds ? 

The little girls — what of them? Are they left carefree to 
roam at will? No, not at all, for they are busy helping mother 
and learning the ways of camp and trail. There are reeds and 
rushes to be gathered and mats and baskets to be woven, and 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 5 = 

soon the girls master the stitches and l)usy fingers fashion bas- 
kets for family use. While the boys are running races, jumping, 
shooting with their bows and arrows, playing all kinds of games 
which tes-t their skill, the girls play with dolls, hunt the bees' 
nest, hoe the corn, stretch the skins and string the beads to make 
the bands for the hair and trimming for the moccasins and leg- 
gings, and weave little baskets to hold the berries they pick in 
the forest. 

Edna L. Zink. 

A STRAY VISITOR. 

"Conduce ! Conduce !" called Mistress Jones. Conduce opened 
his eyes. It was very cold. The light snow that had fallen 
during the night had sifted across the floor of the rude lott where 
Conduce slept. The bright cover of his bed was frosted white 
with the fine flakes. How snug and warm his bed was ! 

But he did not lie in bed. Jumping out of bed he dressed 
hastily and ran down the wooden ladder to the snug kitcheti 
below. There, however, he found trouble waiting for him. 
"The fire has gone out," said his mother. "Take the fire i)ot and 
go borrow^ some fire from our good neighbor Burgan." 

With a piece of cold cornbread for his breakfast and hij; 
gun over his shoulder Conduce was soon on his way. Even 
though the Indians were friendly it was well to go prepared. 
A brisk walk of about a mile brought Conduce to the Burgan 
cabin. His knock was answered by ^Mistress Burgan her face 
pale with fright. "Wliy, what is the matter, Mistress Burgan?" 
asked Conduce. "The Indans!" gas])ed the poor woman. "They 
have been camping near the Gunpowder River and are coming 
nearer." 

"Is Mr. Burgan at home?" asked Conduce. "Yes, he is 
out in the field, but he has no gun," she answered. 

"Then I will hurry home to mother. Father is in Baltimore 
Town. Thank you for the fire," said Conduce. 

He hurried quickly through the woods, only pausing to feed 
his fire with dry leaves and branches. A fine, fat turkey asleep 
on the low branches of a thick pine tree tempted his gun, The 
chance was too good. One shot secured the bird. Then he 
hastened on. 

At iiome with the fire burning brightly the turkey roasting 
on a sp^it before the fire and the cornbread baking in the little 
Dutch oven, Conduce was inclined to laugh at his fears. Sud- 



56 RICAL STORIES FROM HALTIMORI-, COUNTY HISTORY 

dcnly the door opened and in stalked a tall, straight Indian. 

"Ugh — smell plenty good," he grunted. Mrs. Gash hastily 
set the table. On it she j^laced all the things she had to eat. The 
Indan ate silently until he was satisfied. "Ugh! plenty good!" 
he gunted again. Then he sat down on a chair before the fire. 

Conduce tried to entertain him. He showed him their 
clothes, their few books and their furniture. 

Mistress Gash was worried. "What shall we do? What 
if the Indian should stay all night! Oh, if only Gofifrey were at 
home!" she thought to herself. But just at sunset the Indian 
rose from his chair. 

"Ugh ! plenty nice !" he said, and stalked out of the door. 

Caroline Oyeman. 

SOLDIER'S DELIGHT HUNDRED! 
1660. 

Soldier's Delight Hundred, as originally laid out, embraced 
all the territory beginning at the Patapsco River near the Relay 
House on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and followed the 
old Court Road to Joppa, then the county-seat, east of the Gun- 
powder River, which constituted its eastern boundary, thence 
in a northwesterly course through Westminster and Taneytown 
to Penn line; thence in a southwesterly course to the Potomac 
River ; thence to the Relay House. Within these limits were 
"parts of Cross and Lisbon Districts in Howard County; Car- 
roll's Big Woods, parts of Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick 
counties." 

As the population increased the limits of the hundred were 
contracted, and Baltimore county parted with land which went 
to form parts of Plarford, Carroll, Frederick, Floward and Anne 
Arundel counties. 

As far back as 1660 arc found records of Soldier's Delight, 
but it was many years after that before it had any population 
to speak of. Before Baltimore was thought of, it was known 
to settlers as a barren waste, and except about Elkridge Land- 
ing had but few inhabitants. The fertile Long Green and Green 
Si)ring Valleys were not dreamed of, and Worthington's Valley 
was not patented until seventy-five years later. Until then set- 
tlements had been made only along the waterways en the Gun- 
powder, Susquehanna, Back, Bush and Middle River. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 57 

The name "Soldiers' Delight" is of doubtful origin. The 
accepted version being that it was named from the fact that when 
garrisons were erected in different parts of the Hundred to guard 
against the encroachments of the Indians, it was the soldiers' 
delight to have the opportunity to hunt the woods for the game 
which made it a hunter's paradise. For a long time it was a 
reproach to be classed as a resident of Soldiers' Delight, but nov/ 
there is no stigma attached to it, for some of the finest land in 
the county is within its borders. 

The old Court Road, the eastern boundary of old Soldiers' 
Delight Hundred, extended from Elkridge Landing across the 
country to Joppa. This road, which follows the original bed, 
crossed the Reisterstown Road at the Seven Mile House, and 
the York Road at Towson. It is one of the oldest roads in the 
state. The Annapolis worthies used it to go to Joppa and Phila- 
delphia before Baltimore was thought about, and it was the Indian 
path from the Susquehanna to the Potomac. At the Reisters- 
town Road Soldiers' Delight Hundred met Back River Upper 
Hundred. 

In 1844 there were but two roads traversing Soldiers' De- 
light, the Lyon's Mill and the Deer Park, both winding through 
the groves of scrubby oaks and around pits and shafts, sunk in 
search of chromic ore. Wild game abounded, and in the fall 
great clouds of wild pigeons made their home there, feeding on 
the acorns and sassafras berries. At one time atter a severe 
storm the sky was darkened from eleven until four o'clock by 
the passage of millions of wild pigeons. 

Mr. Spencer in an essay referring to Soldiers' Delight, as 
he knew it in 1844, says : "At that period it was said of Sol- 
diers' Delight peo])le that some of them only came out once a 
year to vote — and that it often took them until Christmas to 
find their way home again. The farmers in these rougli hills 
and barren plains were a very different class from the slave- 
holders and tobacco growers who settle the fertile valleys. They 
were independent, simple-mannered, fond of keeping their own 
counsel, plain and old-fashioned in dress. They liked to go to 
church and campmeeting, to talk politics and to attend political 
meetings. They rode good horses and were fond of fox-hunt- 
ing. They were the most primitive people within fifty miles of 
Baltimore." 



58 REAL STORIES FROM HALTIMORIv COUNTY HISTORY 

In 1756 there were few inhabitants north of St. Thomas' 
Church, which was built in 1742, and the country was mostly 
a wilderness, where the Indians and wolves prowled and the wild 
deer was often seen. 

In the early settlement of Soldiers' Delight the pioneers had 
much trouble with the Indians. When the Indians became trou- 
blesome a block-house, or fort, was erected to keep them from 
plundering- the settlement. These forts were the outposts from 
which an alarm could be given in time to prepare for the red man. 

Forts were erected on Ute's Island at the mouth of the Sus- 
cjuehanna to guard against the Susquehannocks ; Fort Freder- 
ick was to guard against the Shawnees ; another was at Piscata- 
way, and one at Garrison's Landing. These latter were for the 
protection against raiding bands of other tribes. The forts in 
the forest of Baltimore County were to prevent Elkridge Land- 
ing from being surprised by the Susquehannocks, to guard the 
Old Court Road and protect the river settlements. It was also 
a resting place for the forest rangers, who rode their patrols 
from Bladensburg to Joppa. 

In 1742 Baltimore was divided from the fertile forest coun- 
try by several almost impassable ridges, and the roads followed 
the valleys without attempting to cross the ridges, so that it was 
easier to go from Joppa to Elkridge than from Pikesville or 
Randallstown or Towson to Baltimore. 

It was owing to this difficulty in travel that led to the build- 
ing of St. Thomas' Church in Garrison Forest, as it was almost 
impossible for people in the outlying districts to attend St. 
Paul's Church in Baltimore. 

At the present day all that retains the name of Soldiers' De- 
light is a tract of land five miles square, containing the rock for- 
mation known as "Bare Hills" and the "white clay" lands. Not 
all the land is clay and rock, however, as there are a number of 
good farms in the neighborhood. At one time all this region was 
famed for copper and chrome ores. 

Nelly e Gorsiich. 

GREEN SPRING VALLEY HISTORY. 
1693. 
We have heard many stories of children and people in far- 
away lands and times of long ago. but the best story of all is 
that one about our own dear Green Spring Valley. Long ago 
even before our grandfathers and grandmothers were born this 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 59 

valley was a thick forest. None of the beautiful trees had then 
been cut with an ax, for no white man had ever been near them. 
They had been standing for hundreds of years, never dreaniing 
of steel axes and biting- saws. A tribe of hxv^e Indians roved 
over the land and liears and wolves and other wild animals 
prowled about seeking food far and wide. A gunshot they had 
never heard and the only danger they knew was the buzz of a 
flint-tipped arrow. This was all more than two hundred and 
fifty years ago. 

Then came the white men from a land far across the sea. 
Over there the people had heard about this wonderful country 
and many longed to see it. We have already learned about the 
early pioneers and those who came into the Valley suffered the 
same hardships and experienced the same joys in this new, un- 
discovered country. The early settlers of the Valley came from 
the shores of the Chesapeake, from the settlement at St. IMary's 
in southern Maryland, and from the settlements on the north in 
Pennsylvania. As more and more people came, others pressed 
their way inland to make homes for themselves in the wilderness. 
As in other parts of the county many of these pioneers, for such 
they were, whether rich or poor, received grants of land directly 
from the king through Lord Baltimore. This was usually a gift 
made in return for some service rendered to the king or the 
county. So it happened that some people received grants cover- 
ing many, many acres extending into our own ralley, and here 
they came to make a home. 

In the quiet forest now sounded the ringing axes as trees 
were felled for the log cabins which soon appeared upon the hill- 
sides or in the valley near the spring of bubbling water. 

As you know, the first houses were built of rough-hewn logs, 
just cabins with one room and a loft above with the chimney out- 
side and the great fireplace within. Soon the thick woods be- 
came ploughed fields full of stumj)s, to be sure, but the rich soil 
"brought forth such an abundance that it "seemed the goodliest 
land the sun ever shone on." The wild animals learned to fear 
the gun of the skilled hunter and fled further into the forest 
where the white man had not yet wandered. \'>\\i tlic Indians 
were not so easy to get rid of. 

As we have already learned, a tribe called the .^ustpu'hannas 
lived in a village on the Sus(|uehanna River about twenty miles 
from its mouth and often made trips down to the bay for salt 



6o REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

water fish and oysters. It is said they made this journey every 
spring and fall. They always went the same way and had worn 
a kind of path or road called a trail. This trail was to the In- 
dians just what a road is to us. It was their trail. It came down 
through the little valley called the Caves, into Green bprnig Val- 
ley, past Chattolanee back of the hotel, by Stevenson and on 
down to the bay. It is said that the old Court Road follows this 
old Indian path. Parts of the trail are still to be seen, though 
most of it has disappeared as homes, fields and roads have changed 
the landscape. We must remember that the Indians had been 
using this time-worn trail many years before the white man 
came and they felt they had the right to keep on using it. Natu- 
rally they looked upon the white man as their enemy come to 
drive them out of their peaceful valley. So they annoyed them 
in many ways, stole from them, burned their homes and some- 
times killed a settler. 

Something needed to be done to settle these Indian troubles. 
so the Governor of Maryland ordered forts to be built in different 
parts of the state as a means of protection. One of these was 
to be placed on Captain Risteau's plantation, known now as the 
home of Mrs. Charles Moore. It is located about ten miles from 
Baltimore, a mile south of Stevenson and two miles north of 
Pikesville. A short ride across a beautiful stretch of country 
will soon bring us to this most interesting spot and as we ride 
along let us learn something of the Colonial Defense near Ste- 
venson known as Fort (jarrson. 

Martha L. Hezves. 

FORT GARRISON. 

Old Fort Garrison, as it is called, is a relic of Indian and 
Revolutionary days. It was built in 1693, to protect tlie fron- 
tier against the Indians, and later, as much as fifty years later, 
in 1755, when there was trouble known as the French and Indian 
war, it served the same purpose. Whether it was used in the 
later wars is not known, but we are led to believe that it was not. 

As we ai-iproach the building we note that it is built upon 
a rise of ground commanding a good outlook over the surround- 
ing country. The building is of stone, twenty by fifty feet, large 
enough to accommodate a captain and nine soldiers, whose busi- 
ness it was to stalk the country seeking out troublesome Indians. 
The walls are very thick, with six small openings which look 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 6l 

like embrasures for musketry. On the outside the oi)eninj:;s are 
small, increasing in size on the inside, yet not large enough to 
admit even the body of a small child. Surely through these lit- 
tle square openings the guns were turned upon the foe. If the 
walls could but speak, what thrillingi tales they might tell ! 

The roof was very steep and made of stone, as a further 
protection against fire, the Indians' most formidable weapon 
when arrows fail ; but at a much later period the walls were raised 
and the roof shingled. It is easy to observe where this change 
was made. Two doors, each cut about three feet from the 
ground, lead inside where we find the big chimney with the big- 
open fireplace. Had the chimney been outside, as was the cus- 
tom followed in building all the log cabins of that day, the Indian 
invaders could easily have torn it away or entered by this shaft 
had they so chosen. 

Strange as it may seem, there have been persons who have 
doubted that this quaint structure was used as a fort, but there 
is conclusive evidence that it was none other than one of the 
forts built in the early colonial period. 

Mr. George Teakin says: "This garrison fort has a peculiar 
value in that it is the oldest permanent fort in ^Maryland." Fort 
Cumberland's site is now occupied by a church. Fort Freder^ 
ick, built in 1700, is still in partial existence, but no trace of 
the forts of St. Mary's City or Mattapony, or Piscataway, or 
the Indian fort of Sipsesutial Island exists. There is one near 
Annapolis, originally Fort Beaman, nor Fort Madison, the date 
of whose origin is unknown. 

The question naturally arises: Why was so little known 
of the garrison so near and so easy of access? The answer is 
easy. Any student of Maryland history knows that until the 
Maryland Historical Society was formed no organized elTort 
was made to preserve records of the past. 

Captain John Oldham was the first commander (jf the fort. 
He had to ])atrol the whole valley and made marches through 
it twice a week to protect the peoj^le. Governor Nicholson 
called upon Captain Oldham for a re|}ort in 1696 and it read 
thus: An y\ccount of the Roads Made lUick of the Inhabitants 
by the Rangers of Baltimore County. 

"The first cabin, fifteen miles northeast, to the- second cabin, 
fifteen miles or thereabouts, ten miles on the same course to 



62 REAL STORIES ?ROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

another cabin on the north side of Deer Creek. Likewise from 
the Garrison to a cabin between Gwynns Falls and the main 
falls of the Patapsco, a west course of ten miles ; which said road 
being marked and duly and weekly ranged by me and my lieu- 
tenants according to the order of the Council." 

A measurement on the map tallies with the present location 
of the Fort Garrison. Does this not also help you to get a picture 
of the widely scattered homes in the wilderness and their need 
of protection in consequence? A walk through the woods was 
lonely enough even for grown men and women, and it required 
courage for a boy or girl to go on an errand to the neighboring 
farm at any time of day. Nightfall must have brought its own 
terrors. But these were times that bred bravery and watchful- 
ness. One was always on the lookout for a hidden foe lurking 
behind trees or stealing through the thicket. What a comfort 
it must have been to meet now and then one of the rangers from 
the garrison ! 

If one is inclined to credit nothing of the history so clearly 
and cleverly pointed out by Mr. Teakin, he must acknowledge 
that it is fair to infer for the building is of great age. Also one 
must admit that it shows evidence of having been built for an 
important purpose. Why was it built contrary to custom in such 
early days, at great expense and trouble, of stone with walls of 
unusual thickness? Why were the windows so small if intended 
for light and ventilation? Why do they broaden so sharply 
inward, forming an embrasure for the use of firearms? The 
idea that it was built for a barn is disproved by the fact that it 
contains a large fireplace and, what is most significant, the chim- 
ney is inside rather than outside, according to the custom in early 
times. Why was the roof so steep, except that it could be built 
of stone and consequently be secure from the most dreaded 
weapon of the savages? Why was the doorsill placed three feet 
from the ground, except for the purpose of defense? All these 
questions the doubter may answer, but the answer to each seems 
to prove historic truth. 

Some disappointment is felt in seeing the building small and 
destitute of the improvements which mark the modern fort. 
But this served in the day in which it was built, and is not that 
enough? If one coming to view this relic of early colonial days 
should say "This fort is mean," he should remember that in 1692 



ONCIi UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 63 

this was the only stone building in Baltimore county ; that the 
pounds of tobacco spent in its erection came from the commu- 
nity ; that it gave a name to the neighborhood ; that it tells of 
the toils of our colonists, of which we can know nothing except 
the legacy they bequeathed. 

It is interesting to have another man's point of view as well 
as ]\Ir. leakins. and Mr. Edward Spencer sets forth very clearly 
in a paper read before the Maryland Historical Society in 1855, 
on "Soldiers' Delight" — where he was born — four reasons for 
the existence of the fort known as Fort Garrison. He says : 
.... "This fort was built first, to protect Elkridge Land- 
ing," then our only commercial port to which tobacco was car- 
ried on hill roads known to this day as rolling roaas ; second, 
to keep the hunting Indians west of the Monocacy ; third, to 
guard Old Court Road from Elkridge to Philadelphia ; fourth, 
as a resting place for Forest Rangers between Elkridge and 
the Monocacy. In studying history of this part of Baltimore 
County we must remember that Garrison Forest and Soldiers' 
Delight are always connected with each other. The soldiers of 
the Garrison in their patrols struck this northwestern wilder- 
ness and sometimes became lost in its thickets and ravines sev- 
eral days before they were able to extricate themselves. On 
this account they named that section 'Soldiers' Delight' in deri- 
sion, but the name (now Farmers' Delight) has ever since clung 
to it." Adapted Ella L. Smith. 

As years went on Green Spring Valley became more thickly 
settled. There were a number of plantations with homes not 
so far apart. Many of the farmers grew tobacco and kept slaves 
to work their lands. The West Jop])a Road which enters the 
valley at Riderwood formed a link l)etween Toppa. the ancient 
county-seat of Baltimore County, and our valley. It is safe to 
suppose that many were the hogsheads of tobacco "rolled" over 
this road to Joi)pa from the Green Spring Valley. 

The railroad, which is a branch of the Northern Central 
Railroad, is more than a hundred years old. Once norses pulled 
the cars back and forth, but steam cars have been running on 
it now for over fifty years. One of the oldest residents tells 
this story: "I remember when the cars were driven up and 
down this track. CXir backyard ran down to the railroad, then 



64 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

as now, and we had a platform built at the back gate. Now 
and then the cars would stop and we had 'town company/ 
Those times were in the good old days.. During the Civil War 
and after the Battle of Gettysburg, a detachment of Gilnior's 
men ])assed through the valley on their way home." The dear 
old lady paused a moment as if she saw once again that scene, 
then continued : "The poor boys were so ragged and dirty we 
were afraid of them. They helped themselves to our corn and 
wheat and to horses, too, as they went. Some of the neighbors 
lost their horses, but ours were hidden up in the meadow in a 
thick swamp. You know in war times many things are done 
that men would not think of doing in times of peace. The old 
adage says : 'All's fair in love and war.' Then we lost our 
slaves and even the gentlemen around here had to work." 

About a mile to the east of Stevenson are some Iiuge holes 
where iron ore was mined for years and smelted by the Ash- 
land Iron Company. But no ore has been mined there now for 
thirty years. The pockets are now filled with water and form 
the lovely little lakes not so far from our school. 

The people of Green Spring Valley have always been great 
lovers of the chase and race. For a long time the kennels were 
at the Ten Mile House on the Reisterstown Pike, but in 1890 
the kennels were moved to Garrison Forest. This land was 
purchased of the Elders. Here a clubhouse and recreation 
grounds have been added. 

At Chattolanee there is a large hotel, built about twenty-six 
years ago. There are over one hundred rooms in it, and thirteen 
cottages in connection with it. In its halcyon days it accom- 
modated two hundred guests, but for four years it has not been 
used. 

Near the hotel are very fine springs now called Chatto- 
lanee Springs, but originally called Green Springs. They have 
been utilized by an electrical bottling plant for the purpose of 
supplying Baltimore city with this excellent drinking water. 

Upon a personal inspection tour one is surprised at 
the labor and diligent care which is exerted in bottling this 
water. A pipe of water from the natural flow conveys the water 
to a tank overhead. This is done every four minutes by an auto- 
matic switch, which turns and cuts the current when the water 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 65 

has been raised to the required height in the tank holding five 
hundred gallons. 

A\'hen the bottles are returned from the city the corks are 
removed and each bottle is smelled. This is done to avoid vine- 
gar and oil bottles. Then they are put in a washer consisting 
of two tanks of water. The first contains a solution of hot water 
and soda. After twenty minutes in this boiling water they are 
then plunged into the tank of cold water for rinsing and cooling. 
They are then taken out and brushed inside and out by brushes 
operated by electricity, each bottle receiving three brushings. 
A large iron hand grabs the bottles and drops them in the con- 
veyor which leads to the syphons. Seven hundred gallon bot- 
tles are filled in an hour. It takes thirty minutes for the entire 
process. 1 he water is shipped on the Northern Central Rail- 
road and delivered by wagons in Baltimore. 

Near Stevenson for 15 or 16 years stood a large attractive 
hotel called Avalon Inn. But nothing is left of it now except 
the site, as it was destroyed by fire in 1912. 

Some people who thought the valley merely an attractive 
place for a summer's outing have made it their permanent home, 
and dotting the landscape like medieval castles are magnificent 
homes of unusual taste and beauty, rising like sentinels on the 
hills. Surrounded by the splendid gardens and fields, the cattle 
grazing on the hills, the silvery streams, the yellow roads, every- 
where we find beauty for the eye to rest upon. 

There are several fine dairy farms in the valley, among 
them Mr. Samuel Shoemaker's at Eccleston, known to be one 
of the finest in the state. 

A ]>crsonal interview with some of the oldest residents of 
Green Spring Valley affords us a glimpse of much interesting 
history. Near Chattolanee is the Craddock estate. The present 
house is not so old, but it stands on the site of a house built in 
1743. It has always remained in the family. 

The estate known as Green Springs, including all tlie land 
around Chattolanee Station, the hotel grounds and the springs, 
once belonged to the Elders and Moales and still remains in the 
family under the name of Shi])ley. It is from these s])rings the 
vallev got its name. The Green S|)rings home was partly built 
in 1774, but has been modernized as the years have gone by. 
The prerent owner showed an old room in which two recesses 
appear, probably built for some fine pieces of statuary. Another 



66 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

treasure shown with considerable pride was an old daguerreo- 
type of the first lady who came from England in "ye olden 
days." Many such interesting relics are to be found in the old 
homes in the valley. Among other family names of the ancient 
regime are the Stevensons, Stones, Catons, Carnans, Owings 
and Tagart. 

The Green Spring Valley is one of the most beautiful resi- 
dential sections of Maryland. It is a thoroughfare for autoists 
and sightseers in general. The fields are the greenest, the hills 
the most beautiful, the roads and by-roads the shadiest and 
coolest in all the country. Summer in the Green Spring Valley 
is indeed glorious. Adapted Martha L. Hezvcs 

and 
Florence Mallonee. 



ST. THOMAS' CHURCH, GARRISON FOREST. 

1743. 

Have you ever been to St. Thomas', in Garrison Forest? 
It stands on a slight rise of ground surrounded by fine old oaks. 
As you come upon this brick chapel and walk about the church- 
yard you are impressed with its great age. The fine old trees, 
the well-kept green sward, the old chapel, the ancient grave- 
stones, some of them almost buried in the ground and many of 
them gray and weather-stained, all speak of the long ago. This 
is, indeed, a hallowed spot, and it is no wonder that you look 
with awe upon the graves of the past generations with a mois- 
tened eye or view it all with the love and veneration which it 
merits. There may be — yes, there are — older churches in Mary- 
land than St. Thomas', but none with more interesting history. 
Everywhere you look, everywhere you step, you almost feel that 
you are in dear old England. Even to this day it wears an Eng- 
lish air. Established so long ago it is still a ]-)Iace of worship 
for the people of Green Spring Valley. 

We have already learned that this section of the county 
was thinly settled at this time. Already we have asked ourselves, 
where did these people go to church ? Those who favored the 
Church of England were members of St. Paul's Parish, and 
the nearest church was Old St. Paul's in Baltimore Town. This 
was a long distance to ride on the Sabbath, so these inhabitants 
of the forest thought, and soon a kind of mission was estab- 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 6/ 

lished to accommodate the "forest inhabitants" of Fort Garri- 
son, so called because of the fort and garrisoh of soldiers under 
Captain John Risteau, high sheriff of the county. 

In August, 1739, the Reverend Benedict Bourdillon was sent 
to the parish by Governor Ogle. In those days the minister or 
rector, as he was called, was appointed by the government and 
called a queer name, "incumbent." This meant that he was de- 
pendent upon the people of the parish for his living. 

In 1741 Reverend Bourdillon proposed to the vestry of St. 
Paul's that "a chapel of ease" for the accommodation of the 
"forest inhabitants" be built, but before the vestry could act, 
permission to obtain funds and to build must be granted by the 
government. Why did they have to wait for this? Because a 
clause in the charter gave this power to the governor through 
the king. Here are the words of the charter: 

"The charter by which the territory and government of the 
province of jNlaryland was given to Lord Baltimore in 1632 pro- 
vided 'that no chapel, church or place of worship could be es- 
tablished except by his authority and this power to be extended 
to the government of the province.' " 

In the following year we find that four men of the commu- 
nity were given the right to receive voluntary subscriptions for 
the purchase of two acres- of land, to choose the spot and arrange 
for the building of a chapel. "S'ou will not be surprised to know 
that the subscriptions formed such a bulk that they could not 
be carried away in their pockets, for it was not money at all. 
The amount collected was tobacco — forty-four hundred pounds 
of tobacco were given by the people of the community towards 
this little chapel of the forest. I was not right when I said no 
money was given, for the old records show that in addition to the 
tobacco, 64 pounds and 10s. were added. Notice that this was 
English money. You must remember that they had no other 
at their command. 

Things did not move so swiftly in tiiose days as at tiie 
present time. One year they decided to Iniild a chapel, the next 
year the funds were collected, and the third year the land was 
purchased. How much do you suppose it cost ? Two acres 
were purchased from Christopher Gist for 4 pounds or $11.70. 

On this land St. Thomas' Church was erected and still 
stands. Does this help you to realize that the little boys and 



68 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

girls of that day were little English subjects, never dreaming 
of a time when they might not pay allegiance to their king and 
queen ? Their fathers and mothers, too,- were good English sub • 
jects, and so this "chapel of ease" in Garrison Forest took on 
the appearance of a little English church. It took them some 
time to build it. The walls were carried up and the roof cov- 
ered in. The bricks of which it was built were brought from 
England. There were not enough in the first lot, so they had 
to wait for a second shipment. Falling short of the required 
number, however, the gable ends could not be carried up to a 
point as they had planned. This accounts for the picturesque 
hip-roof seen in the pictures of the church made in 1870. In 
this year it was found necessary to repair the roof, so some of 
the church fathers decided to extend the gable ends to a point 
as had been originally planned. As a result a sharp pitched roof 
took the place of the old hi]>roof, much to the regret of many 
of the people. The chapel was fifty-six feet Jong by thirty-six 
feet wide. 

At this time all the country-side worshiped here and it was 
decided to separate the mission church from the mother church 
in Baltimore, calling this new parish the Parish of St. Thomas. 

The Reverend Thomas Cradock was the first minister of 
the parish, coming to this charge in 1743. Mr. Cradock's salary 
was small. The clergy then were supported by a tax of forty 
pounds of tobacco each on every white man and every servant 
over sixteen years of age. In this way the wealthier people of 
the community contributed more to the church, for you can 
readily see that a man having ten servants would have to give 
four hundred pounds of tobacco. It was collected from all 
whether they were members of the church or not, and strange 
to say was not paid directly to the church, but was handed over 
to the sheriff of the county, who distributed it. The number of 
taxables, as they were called, in this year 1743 is found to have 
amounted to six hundred and seventy-five, thus yielding $325.00 
as the rector's salary. At this time the inhabitants north of the 
church were few. Indians, bears, wolves and deer roamed 
through that region, so we can think of St. Thomas' as a chapel 
on the frontier, but it became more populous every year. So 
rapidly did St. Thomas' grow that at the time of ]\Ir. Cradock's 
death the salary was four times the amount when he entered 
u]ion his charge. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 6g 

It is most interesting to read the old church records, and 
we can get a great many sidehghts on the manners and customs 
of that day. Two hooks for the use of the parish, one for re- 
cording church needs and the other for registering births, mar- 
riages and deaths, as was then required by law, are still in pos- 
session of the vestry and in a fair condition. Here are some ac- 
counts, and if you are wise you will read between the lines and 
learn how these people lived, what they thought and what they 
hoped for : 

On the 28th of May, 1745, the vestry agreed with Colonel 
William Hammond for leveling the church floor with earth, 
"within three bricks of the water-table, the floor to be well 
rammed and hardened." He was also to floor a part of the 
church with brick and on the brick he was to lay a floor of pine 
plank on sleepers of red oak. He was also to build pews of 
I)anel work. The pews were nearly square, having seats on 
three sides with straight backs as high as the neck of the person 
seated. 

Can't you" imagine that the little children sat up as straight 
and stiflf as their elders in the high-backed pews ? 

In July, 1755, a large Bible and two large prayer-books 
for the use of the church were ordered from England. Does 
this not tell you that no book l)indery or. printing shops had yet 
appeared in the colonies? Then, too, no books could seem so 
good to them as those from "home." for England was still home 
to them. 

In July, 1759, the vestry made an agreement with Alexan- 
der Wells to plaster and whitewash the church for $186 — he 
finding all the materials and being allowed one year's time in 
which to do the work. Is this at all interesting to know? Just 
note the length of time given him to set the churcli m order. 

In October, 1808, it was ordered that the fireplace of the 
vestry room be filled u]). This indicates the time when stoves 
began to appear in churches. Before this time the bla/.e from 
the open fire took off the chill on cold days. I find no records 
of warming-])ans in Maryland such as were used in l^ngland, 
and I can well believe that during the winter the worshipers 
must have sat with cold feet and cold hands throughout a long 
service. 

At the Easter Monday meeting of the vestry, in 1874. Mr. 
Samuel M. Shoemaker offered to give a pipe organ, which was 



yo REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

gratefully accepted, and a committee appointed to build "an ad- 
dition" to the new church on the left of the chancel to contain 
the new instrument. 

On February 6, 1889, a committee was appointed to con- 
sider the enlarging of the building. In March the committee 
made a report presenting a plan for the enlargement of the 
church and for the restoration of the roof, "hipped in the style 
of the age in which the church was built." 

So, today, should you ride to this most charming spot in 
Baltimore County and wander through the gate into the quaint 
old church-yard, you will find the building looking much the 
same as it did in the early days. It is larger, to be sure, but the 
same style still prevails. If one is with you who loves every 
brick, every nook and cranny of the old church, she will tell 
you of the many changes which have come about, and will point 
out with pride where the first bricks in the outer wall ended 
and where the next shipment was placed. If you look closely, 
you can see a difference in the color of the brick. When you 
step inside you look for the old dirt floor "rammed and hard- 
ened," but instead you find the ancient bricks over which many 
feet have trod. Once upon a time the chapel must have been 
lighted by means of candles. The candelabra is still retained, 
but the lighting is done by means of gas. However, there must 
have been a time when lamps were used as in most country 
churches. 

Nothing modern appears in the church save two windows 
which have been recently placed by Mr. S. f{. Tagart as a fitting 
memorial to his family. Three stained glass windows of opales- 
cent glass were placed in the chancel, very beautiful in design, 
and executed by John La Farge, of New York. 

Growing out of the work of St. Thomas', a little mission 
chapel was established in 1874 near Pikesville, afterwards de- 
veloped into St. Marks-on-the-Hill. 

It is interesting to know that different from most country 
churches, St. Thomas' Church in Garrison Forest was able to 
count but three rectors in all of its long history. Reverend Ho- 
bart Smith, the present rector, began his duties on Christmas 
Day, 1888, and it is through him that we are indebted for these 
bits of history which he has so pleasantly arranged for the peo- 
ple of the parish and others who love the Green Spring Valley. 

Ella L. Smith and 
Florence Mallonee. 



onch; upon a time in our town and vicinity 71 

FOX HUNTING IN THE GREEN SPRING VALLEY. 

(A letter zvrittcn by Jack zulio lives in Green Spring Valley, 
Maryland, to his cousin Henry, who lives in iHorida.) 

Dear Henry : 

You remember I promised to write you all about the hunt- 
ing in the Green Spring Valley, and the club to which Uncle 
Henry belongs. 

The hunting season lasts from July to the middle of the fol- 
lowing April — cubs being hunted from July to September. 
Young dogs, with three or four old dogs for leaders, are taken 
out for the cub hunting. When the days are long the hunters 
hunt early in the morning — sometimes starting as early as five 
o'clock. As the days become shorter the hunters start later and 
later, sometimes hunting in the afternoon. They usually have 
about three hunts a week. 

Our red foxes do not climb like the gray foxes farther 
south (which sometimes run round and round a hill in a circle, 
and then run up a tree and have to be shaken down), but some- 
times run from seven to eight miles in a straight line. On the 
hunt the dogs are winded in by the horns of the M. F. H. If 
the dogs succeed in coming up with the quarry, the first lady in 
at the finish gets the brush, and the second lady the mask. You 
see, many of the ladies here enjoy hunting, too. 

Shortly after the hunting season closes two annual point-to- 
point races are given. At each of these the troj)hy for the win- 
ner is a silver loving cup. Just before the races two or three 
drag hunts are given in order to limber up the horses. As yoU 
know, Henry, in a drag hunt there is no fox, but blankets which 
foxes have Iain on are dragged over a course about an hour and 
a half before the hunt. This gives the one laying out the course 
time to finish before the hunters come uj) with him. 

Now, I must tell you something about the Green vSpriiig 
Valley Hunt Club, to which many of the hunters belong, and on 
the grounds of which are the kennels where the hounds are 
ke])t. Tbe club was organized in 1892, at the home of one of 
its members, "to improve the pack of hounds, and gradually, 
with the increase of membershii), to extend the hunting features 
of the club to oth.cr athletic sports." The kennels were first 
kept at Clifl'eholn''c. but later on more commodious quarters 



y2 REAL STORIES EROM BAVflMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

were secured by leasing the old Ten-Mile House. Other gentle- 
men beside the charter members were elected, with the under- 
standing that efforts be made to improve the pack of hounds, 
for which new kennels would be built, and for which a paid 
keeper would be necessary, and later on to acquire a clubhouse 
and grounds. 

In the spring of 1893 the first jumping contest was held. 
From December, 1892, wheii the club was organized, to the sum- 
mer of 1893, the membership increased from thirteen to eighty 
members. The annual subscription dues were raised from five 
to ten dollars. It was then that the old "Ten-Mile House" on 
the Reisterstown Pike was leased as the club's home. This 
property comprised about one acre of ground, improved by a 
large dwelling house (formerly an inn), having large rooms for 
boarders, and with outbuildings suitable for kennels for the 
hounds, and stabling for from twelve to fifteen horses. All 
were put in the care of an experienced and reliable man. 

Early in 1896, shortly before the expiration of the lease 
on the old Ten-Mile House, it was found that it could not be 
leased again, except at a considerable advance. It was also 
found that the location could not be improved to suit the pur- 
poses of the club, and in order to be habitable, it would re- 
quire the outlay of a large sum of money for repairs. Since the 
membership had increased to about one hundred and forty, and 
the organization was in far better circumstances financially, this 
was deemed a good time to consider the acquisition of a site for 
a clubhouse and grounds, with plenty of room for added fea- 
tures, .so that the non-hunting members might find many attrac- 
tions in which they could participate also. 

The board of governors selected a site of about ten acres of 
ground near the Garrison Station of the G. S. B. R. R., and 
about an eighlh of a mile from the Reisterstown Pike, which 
commanded a beautiful view of the Green Spring Valley. A 
clubhouse, with ballroom and sleeping accommodations, sur- 
rounded by lawns large enough for holding jumping contests and 
horse shows on them, was erected on this site. Also a comfort- 
able stable and kennels for the dogs. The Green Spring Val- 
ley Hunt Club Building Association was incorporated. This 
financed the purchasing of the ground and erection of the build- 



ONCE UPON A TIMIC IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 73 

ings. The clubhouse was opened in the fall of 1.S97. In 1V09 a 
bungalow of nine rooms was built for the accommodation of 
those members who wished to spend their summers in the 
valley. 

Additional features, such as tennis, baseball, dancing, shoot- 
ing, swimming, quoits and horse shows, have been added. Re- 
cently more land was purchased, and a golf course laid out. 

Mr. John McHenry, the first president, was succeeded in 
1913 by Mr. Gustav Stewart, the present president. Mr. Red- 
mond C. Stewart has been M. F. H. from 1892 to the present 
time, last fall becoming joint master with Mr. Benjamin H. 
Brewster, Jr. 

During the twenty-two years of its existence the club has 
become a flourishing organization, with two hundred and sixty 
members, and the annual membership fee increased to twenty- 
five dollars. 

During the Spanish War, and again during the present war, 
the privileges of the clubhouse were tendered to the ladies of the 
neighborhood for the purpose of making articles for the army. 

Mr. John E. Raine says: "As the Warrenton Hunt Club 
upholds the traditional fame of the State of Virginia, so does 
the Green Spring X^alley Hunt Club do its share to sustain IMary- 
land's reputation with the fox hounds." 

Well, Henry, I can almost hear you say, "Oh, what a tire- 
some letter!" but beg your father to let you visit the Valley next 
sjiring at the time of the annual ])oint to point, and T am sure 
you will not find it tiresome, but very exciting. 

Yr)ur sincere cousin. 

Jack. 
OLD SATER'S. 
1741. 

There is one historic spot in Baltimore County that is well- 
known in the State of Maryland, and in many other states of the 
North and South as well. 

For almost a century and three-(|uartcrs there has stood in 
a secluded spot in the Green Spring Valley an old brick church, 
known as Old Sater's Baptist Church. Tt was built even before 
any bricks had been made in our country, for the bricks of which 
it is built — except for a few that were added in later years — 
were brought all the way from T'.ngland. 



74 REAI^ STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

The very atmosphere about the old place breathes antiquity. 
Look at the weathered old cemetery adjoining. Read some of 
the quaint and curious epitaphs, written for those who lived, 
some of them, two centuries ago. In themselves they are in- 
teresting history. Stones of all kinds may be seen; many so 
badly weathered that all inscriptions are effaced; others have 
buried themselves almost entirely from view. Curiously prom- 
inent, near the entrance of the church, are two small marble 
vaults, where some relatives of the founder lie buried. The 
ashes of the founder himself are resting beneath the part of the 
church over which the pulpit stands. Tradition says that he 
wished to be buried there, and requested no other monument 
than the old church that bears his name, and for which he so 
faithfully labored. 

The history of old Sater's is fannliar to manv. Long: ago, 
when all this land about us was a huge untrodden torest, a oc- 
vout Christian man named Henry Sater held prayer meetings 
and religious services in his own little cabin in the woods. The 
wigwams of the Indians were all about the lodgings, and the 
howling of the wolves interposed the evening services, but noth- 
ing daunted, the little band grew and grew until it felt the need 
of larger quarters. 

Henry Sater again came forward and gave of his land and 
his bounty, and in 1742 Old Sater's Church was built. Though 
wars came to darken our land, and battles were fought even be- 
neath her very walls, the old church stood as she still stands — 
firm and strong. Some of the best and most influential of the 
Baptist churches of Baltimore began as missions from Old 
Sater's, and they have never ceased to pay homage to her. 

To show their esteem and regard for the grandmother of 
the Baptist churches in Maryland, each year on the second Sun- 
day in June, throngs of people flock from all parts of the state, 
and from other states as well, to an all-day's meeting at Sater's. 
This custom is more than a century old, and churches of all de- 
nominations for miles around give up their services on that 
day out of regard for Old Sater's. The time-honored "June 
Meeting'' celebrated in 1917 marked the one hundred and seven- 
ty-fifth anniversary. 

As you look about you see on all sides the ravages of time: 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 75 

The tombstones old and moss-grown, 

The tall trees bending low ; 
The oak with nlighty sinews, 

The tangled maize below ; 
The little church with its weathered walls 

That still stands firm and strong, 
Tho' wars have been waged about her 

And she has felt the breath of the storm. 

Here is the history of Sater's told in rhyme: 

You have read of the little cottage, 

Where in days gone by, 
With savage tents about it, 

And the thick, dark, woodland nigh, 
A few of His faithful followers, 

A zealous and earnest band, 
Had gathered to worship their Master, 

Led by His might}- hand. 

And though they were few in number, 

Their faith in God was strong; 
His promise to be with them 

Kept them firm to fight the wrong. 
And so, midst trial and struggle 

This band grew more and more. 
Till the cottage failed to shelter 

All who sought it? dour. 

'Twas then that Henry Saier. 

So many years ago — 
Gave of his land and his bounty 

To build the church you know. 
She stands the mother of churches 

That have since grown strong and great 
But to her belongs the honor 

Of the First Baptist Church in our State. 

Edna L. Zink, 

Cronhardt. 



76 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"TRENTHAM." 
1746. 

What would you think if, when ready to take a bath, you 
had to go out of the house and across the front lawn to the bath- 
house ? 

This is just what the Rev. Thomas Cradock's family had 
to do about one hundred years ago, when they lived on the beau- 
tiful estate of "Trentham," about two miles south of St. Tim- 
othy's Church, in Baltimore county. 

If you could go to Trentham today you could see this splen- 
did stone bathhouse, octagonal in shape, which took more than 
a year to build, as even the nails are hand made. Two mahog- 
ony bathtubs still serve to show the use for which it was in- 
tended, and everything is in perfect condition, although it has 
been in use for more than a hundred years. 

The house in which the family lived is also built of stone, 
and is situated on the slope of the hill near a spring. In front 
of the house is a wide brick pavement. The garden is laid out 
to the right with wide grass walks running at right angles. It 
is enclosed by a stone wall, the lower garden being reached by 
three flights of stone steps. Along the garden wall runs a nar- 
row bed with stone coping, as have the large square beds in the 
center. Between the beds there is a gravel walk four feet wide. 
At the gate, which is very English, are still growing English 
cowslips planted by Katherine Cradock, the first mistress of 
Trentham. 

This fine estate of one hundred acres of land, Trentham. 
was given to Katherine Risteau by her father. Captain Risteau 
(John), when she became the bride, 1746, of Rev. Thomas Cra- 
dock, the first minister in St. Thomas' parish. 

Rev. Cradock had come from England the vear b-^fore. 
1/45, bringing with him his letter mandate from Gov. Bladen, 
authorizing him to exercise the office of minister of St. Thomas' 
Parish. These he presented to the vestrymen and wardens of 
the church on the day that they were elected. 

There were very few settlers in the surrounding communitv 
in 1745. Captain John Risteau. the High Sheriff of the county, 
commanded a garrison of soldiers stationed on his plantation 
against the Indian raids, which occurred often now, as you 
have learned from your study of Fort Garrison. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 'J'/ 

We often hear of Deer Park, the road passing Trentham. 
This road was a thoroughfare, and over it came the covered 
wagons from Pennsylvania, as well as some of the settlers froi* 
Baltimore Town. All of those travelers stopped at the spring- 
near the house for water. It was known as the "Parson's 
Spring." 

In 1747 Rev. Cradock, prompted, Dr. Ethan Allen says, "by 
a desire of usefulness," opened a school at Trentham and taught 
the German and Latin languages. Some of the most prominent 
men in the neighborhood had the advantage of this instruction, 
among them the celebrated Colonel Cresap. Schools like this 
one were few in those days, and since Wx. Cradock was an ac- 
complished scholar, this school was of great value. 

The Gists and Howards were Dr. Cradock'.s nearest neigh- 
bors. Later Dr. Lyon moved to "Wester Ogle," and John 
Moale, who married Ellen North, the first white child born in 
Baltimore, had a summer residence at Green Spring, which later 
became the home of George H. Elder. 

Trentham was to have become entailed property, but the 
oldest son, Arthur Cradock, died in 1769. Rev. Thomas Cra- 
dock lived only a year after his son's death. Although only 
fifty-two years of age when he died, he had suffered for many 
years from a curious paralysis, which left his limbs helpless, but 
did not prevent him from fulfilling his appointments. He was 
carried to church by his servants or the young men. and ])]aced 
in a chair near the chancel. 

At his death the youngest son, "Thomas," inherited "'I'ren- 
tham," provision havnig been made for the second son. Dr. John 
Cradock, and his daughter. Dr. Thomas Cradock was also m- 
tended for the ministry, but he chose the profession of medi- 
cine, and became an able and distinguished ])hysician. 

To the poor and unfortunate Dr. Cradock was counsellor 
and friend, and it is a tradition at Trentham thai no one in iiccd 
or trouble has ever been turned from its doors. 

We can picture Dr. Cradock with powder and wig, knee 
breeches and buckles, starting off with the inevitable saddle- 
bags, and returning to compound his medicine in the old Doc- 
tor's shop, which stood at the end of the house. Dr. Cradock 
i)Cfiueathed his property to his nephew and adonted son. Dr. 
Tbomas Cradock Walker, who was born at Trentham, and 



78 KEAIv STORIES FROM BAI^TIMORE) COUNTY HISTORY 

always lived there with his uncle. He married his cousin, Kath- 
erine Cradock. They were born in the same room, married in 
the same house, and died in the room in which they were born. 
By an act of the Legislature he had the Walker dropped from 
the names of the two sons, Thomas Cradock and John Cradock, 
as a token of gratitude to his uncle. Most of the traditions of 
St. Thomas' Parish have come to us through him. 

Blanche McCnbbin and M. Annie Grace. 

REISTERSTOWN. 

INDIAN DAYS. 
1769. 

A long time ago where our village now is there was a village 
of Susquehannock Indians. Indian warriors hunted in the 
forest or sat by their camp fires smoking and telling stories of 
the hunt or their brave deeds in u'ar. 

Where our lawns and gardens are today squaws dug up 
the ground with their bone hoes or digging sticks, and planted 
corn and beans. For this was early as 1514, more than a hun- 
dred years before the white man came to Maryland. 

Indian children ran about in the forest, and aften an In- 
dian baby in cradle of skin and grass swung from the branch 
of a tree or leaned against the wigwam, when he was not riding 
on his mother's back. 

The village was arranged in a circle, and instead of houses 
were wigwams or tents made by the Indian women. In the 
evening they would build a great fire in the center of this circle, 
and gather around the. fire telling stories and feasting. 

There v/ere no roads then, only paths through the forest. 
Many of these paths were made by the animals. 

When the white men came the Indians sold their villages 
to them and went further West, until there were no Indians 
to be seen around what is now our village of Reisterstown. 

Arrow heads, stone hammers and many Indian relics have 
been found in the gardens and fields around our village, so we 
know that long, long ago the Indians lived where we are now 
living today. 

EARLY HISTORY. 

1769—1773 
Daniel Bower, afterward known as Colonel Bower, who 
was a burgomaster of Strasburg, emigrated to Maryland before 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 79 

1769. Large tracts of land on the west of Reisterstown were 
patented to him in 1769, and until recently a part of this tract 
of land was farmed by his grandfather, Andrew Banks, one of 
the most noted men of Reisterstown. 

The oldest house of which there is any authentic record 
was built in 1773. This house was built and occu])icd by Solo- 
man Choate, and is now owned and occupied by James Berry- 
man. A number of houses were built soon after this one, and 
in ten years the plice had grown into a village of ten or fifteen 
houses. 

These old houses were built of logs, and many of them are 
now standing, but have been improved and modernized or 
ruined (as one of the old residents told me when 1 called on 
him to obtain some information about the town). Some of 
these houses have been cased with brick, others rough-coated, 
and then weather-boarded or shingled. It is easy to pick out 
the old homes in spite of their brave modern dress, for every 
one of them is as near the road as possible, owing to the fact 
that at the time they were built land was very dear! It was 
impossible to purchase it for less than four dollars an acre ; 
therefore the first settlers could not enjoy the luxury of a front 
yard, for they needed every foot of land for farming purposes ! 
Now, when land in Reisterstown can be purchased for one thou- 
sand dollars an acre, the new homes are surrounded by large 
farms. 

The first houses were built and occupied by the Roisters, 
Beckleys, Solomon Choate, Colonel Bowen, Forneys, Dixons, 
Duckers, Moales, Worthingtons and Johns. The earliest set- 
tlers were i)lanters, and most of them were slave-holders. Some 
of them were mechanics. One of the residents owned a large 
tannery located in the vicinity. 

Origin. 
As most of the towns and cities have their origin at a cross- 
road, no doubt the reasons for selecting what is now Reisters- 
town as the site of the village were due to the facts that it was 
on the direct road from Baltimore to Pittsburgh, and branih- 
ing road at the northern end of the village, and the nuni])cr of 
crossroads and neighborhood roads that connect with the \il- 
lage. These were i)ro1)ably at one time Indian trails marie by 
the Susc|uehannocks in their search for food. Then, too, as 



So • REAL STORIES pfROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

the early settlers were farmers, it was a natural place to locate, 
the soil being well adapted to agricultural pursuits, and in easy 
access of good shipping point. 

Interesting Facts. 

One of the old residents told me that he could remember 
when half of Reisterstown belonged to the Johns and Worth- 
ingtons, two related families. They owned the land from the 
east side of the Reisterstown Pike to the Gunpowder River, and 
also large tracts of land extending into Carroll county. At the 
present time there is only one descendant of these families that 
owns a foot of this vast tract of land. 

In 1847 Captain Storm organized a company of riflemen 
to assist with the war in Mexico, but peace being declared, they 
were ordered to the front. 

Captain Ritter, a- resident of the village, told me that when 
he was a bov he often came w^ith his father from rheir home in 
the Worthington Valley to watch this company drill. In 1859 
the Reisterstown Riflemen were organized as one of the conse- 
quences of the John Brown raid, and on January 31, 1861, the 
ladies of the neighborhood [^resented the cor])s with a handsome 
flag. 

Bill Otter, a plasterer, who kept a tavern in Reisterstown 
in 1850, wrote a book. He was rather a wit, and very fond of 
playing jokes. The book is really a record of tricks he played 
on his credulous neighbors. 

Francis Scott Key's brother owned a property about three 
miles above Reisterstown, and Mr. Key spent a great deal of 
time there with his brother. At present this property, known 
as "The Elms," is owned and occupied by the Misses Gray. 

Noted Visitors. 

One one occasion Washington spent the night with Colonel 
Bower at his home in Reisterstown. The Colonel made Wash- 
ington a present of enough cloth for a suit of clothes. The 
cloth was woven on Colonel Bower's estate from the wool of 
his own sheep. 

When General Washington was leaving Colonel Bower 
asked him to name the village, which at that time was nameless. 
He gave it his own name, "Washington." This name was only 
applied to the northwestern part of the village — the part north 
of what is now known as "School Lane." 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 8l 

The southeastern part was called Reistersville, because so 
many families by the name of Reister lived in that part of the 
village. The Reisters were not as large landholders as other 
residents; but at that time three-fourths of the houses in the 
village were occupied by Reisters, and naturally tb.c village took 
that name. It was not long until the whole village wa^^ called 
Reisterstown, and its name of Washington forgotten. 

When (jeneral Lafayette visited the United States after the 
Revolutionary War he spent a night at the Forney Tavern. 
This was an old manor house, located on what is now Chat- 
worth avenue and the Reisterstown Road. The Fo"neys were 
noted for the excellent meals they served. At the time of La- 
fayette's visit it was quite the fashion for Baltimoreans to break- 
fast in Reisterstown Sunday mornings. The Forneys always 
had a house full to breakfast that day. 

Churches. 

The first church was a Lutheran church. There is no 
building on the site of this old church, which was located 
in what is now the Lutheran Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in 
Reisterstown, and situated on what is known as the School Lane. 

In 1774 the Baptists built what was called a claj)board meet- 
ing-house, about two miles north of Reisterstown. 

In 1866 the Lutheran Church was built, Reverend Dr. Howe 
being the pastor at that time. The congregation was organized 
in 1855, and worshiped in the C\ld Fellows' Hall until their 
church was built. 

Seventy-seven years ago all the denominations in and about 
Reisterstown worshiped in the same church, holding their serv- 
ices at different times. This church belonged to the Methodists. 
People for miles around came to Reisterstown to worship. 

The only mode of travel at that time was horseback. Every- 
one rode. There were only two carriages in the neii'liborhood. 
One of these was owned by a Tvliss Taggart, and tlu- other by a 
Mr. Hollingsworth. 

Roads. 

The road from Baltimore to Pittsburgh, ]:)assing through 
Reisterstown, was a stage road. Like all the old stage roads, 
there were relays of horses alon:^ the line. Later there was a 
stage from Baltimore to Westnn'nster. This stage took two 
days for the round trip. The smge driver was also the mail 
carrier. 



82 REAL STORIIiS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

In 1797 a charter was granted by the Legislature of Mary- 
land to macadamize the road as far as the Pennsylvania line. 
The Reisterstown road is one of the oldest paved roads in the 
state; for the charter to pave the Frederick road was granted 
by the same Legislature. 

Mr. Louis Ritter drove the first carriage over the road after 
it was completed as far as Reistestown. Mr. Ritter desired to 
attend a ball given at Reisterstown to celebrate the completion 
of the road as far as that village. The road was not open to 
the public, so he had to ol)tain ])ermission from the superinten- 
dent to drive his carriage over the new road. The superinten- 
dent, fearing the workmen along the line might cause Mr. Rit- 
ter trouble, rode behind the carriage. 

After the road was opened large six and eight-horse wagons 
from Pittsburgh passed through Reisteistown on their way to 
Baltimore. It took a week to make the journey. They hauled 
produce to Baltimore, and took a load of emigrants back. They 
always spent the night m Reisterstown at one of the taverns, 
'i'he emigrants carried their own bedding, and when they 
stopped at an iim llicy spread their Ijeddiiig on tlie floor ar.d 
slept there. 

Many of the present residents remember the days of the 
stage coach and big wagons ; also the Forney tavern and others 
where the emigrants spent the night. 

In 189.T the electric road connecting Baltimore and Emory 
Grove, by way of Reisterstown, was completed. At the present 
time Reisterstown is connected with ^yestminster and Hanover 
by automobile bus. 

Schools. 

TJie Hannah More Academy. 

The Hannah More Academy owes its existence to Mrs. Ann 
Neilson, who gave ten thousand dollars for the erection of an 
academy on a lot of ground given by her for that purpose. She 
lived to erect the building, naming it Hannah More. It is a pri- 
vate school for girls. 

The Franklin Academy. 

In 1773, for the sum of one dollar, John Reister deeded 
to a board of trustees the ground for the erection of the Franklin 
Academy. This academy was built and equipped through private 
subscriptions. It was a school for the children of the town and 



ONCE UPON A time: IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 83 

neighborhood for many years, its organization dating back to 
the beginn-ng of the nineteenth century. Like similar schools 
throughout the State, in those days, a tuition fee was exacted. 

In 1870 the trustees deeded the building and grounds to the 
Baltimore County School Commissioners. The building was in- 
adequate for the demands of the community, as it consisted only 
of a small brick building. The commissioners built a two-story 
addition to this. Mr. F. S. Landstreet, a graduate of the Frank- 
lin High School, contributed five thousand dollars towards the 
erect'on of a new building for the high school. In the fall of 
1905 the foundation of the building was laid. When completed 
it was occupied by the high school grades ; the elementary classes 
using the original building. 

In the spring of 191 3 ground was broken for another addi- 
tion, which was completed and ready for occupancy January 
5th, 1914. 

The first principal, after the school was given into the hands 
of the Baltimore School Board, was Joseph Whittington. The 
Franklin High School is the oldest high school in the county. 

Nellye M. Gormch. 
grandmother's school. 

My grandmother went to school in a little log school house. 
All day long she sat on a stool and looked at her one book while 
she waited for her turn to say her lesson. There were no desks 
in her school and no pictures on the wall but there was always 
a bunch of sticks near the teacher's desk to remind grandmother 
to keep very quiet. 

I am sure she was often very tired for there was nothing 
for her to do or to look at. Of course she could listen to the 
other children say their lesson and grandmother says sometimes 
she went to sleep listening. 

Her book had no pictures in it and no nice stories about 
fair-es and elves, and gods like we have in our books. No, in- 
deed, grandmother learned her "a-b-c's" first, then she learned 
"b-a, ba; b-e, be; b-i, hi; b-o, bo; b-u, bu." Wasn't that a funny 
reading lessoon? 

Grandmother made her own writing book out of sheets of 
paper which she had to rule. Her j^en was a goose quill sharp- 
ened with a knife. Her father made the pen for her, and every 
night she took it home to be sharpened. She made her ink, too. 
Grandmother had lots of fun at recess, playing games, jump- 



84 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

ing rope, and swinging in the grape vine swings which the boys 
made in the grove back of the school house. 

The girls used to sweep the rooms and make it tidy while 
the boys cut wood for the fire, which was a big open fire in the 
great fire place on one side of the room. The teacher had his 
desk near the fireplace and she could keep warm. But the chil- 
dren were often cold, especially those who sat in the corners. 

When grandma did not know her lesson she had to sit on a 
one-legged stool or wear the dunce cap- 

There were no desks in the room, but there was a shelf 
around two s'des of the room and the older scholars sat at this 
to write and study. Grandmother was glad when she was big 
enough to have a place at this shelf. 

Grandmother says she had a jolly time at school even if her 

back did ache from sitting all day on a bench with no back. 

But I think my school is better than hers. 

Grade III. Reisterstown. 

Class story worked out from information children obtained at 
home and from old people in the village. 

GLYNDON. 

The history of Glyndon does not dififer materially from that 
of Reisterstown. There was a time when Indians roamed through 
all this region, when the deer, bears, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, 
squirrels and foxes were plentiful; there was a time when the 
pioneers came and drove both Indians and wild animals farther 
inland ; there was time when the village began and this is the 
way it happened : 

Dr. Lear and John Neal owned the land where Glyndon is 
now. Later a railroad, the Western Maryland, passed through 
their land to Baltimore. The people in the neighborhood and 
Reisterstown wanted a station built, so in i860 Mr. Lansen Ship- 
ley built a station and a home under the same roof. This was 
called the Reisterstown Station, or Emory Grove Postoffice for 
many years. In 1874 this property was bought by Mr. Patrick 
Dyer and in this house John Dyer was the first child born in 
Glyndon. In 1875 Mr. S. P- Townsend bought about thirty acres 
of laud from the owners of farms noted above and started a 
town. He built a row of cottages, a postoftice and hall, a large 
house for a boarding house or kind of suburban hotel, a ware- 
house, a store and a fine house for himself. Dr. Lear also bu'lt 
houses and laid out roads and avenues. Many people were at- 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 85 

tracted to the quiet spot. Soon the comfortable cottages were 
either sold or rented and neighbors were sharing experiences over 
the back fence or chatting pleasantly across the spacious front 
lawns. 

The new town needed a name because it had a postoffice. 
Many people wanted to name it Townsendville, after Mr. Town- 
send, but he objected so much that the name w^as abandoned. He 
then asked the privilege of nam'ng the village. This was granted. 
Then he sought help from his friends, among them General 
Hood, and Mrs. Hood, w4io said she would be glad to aid. So 
she secured the co-operation of every one in and about the vil- 
lage, asking each one to suggest suitable names. These she wrote 
upon sips of paper, tossed them into a hat, and then one slip 
was drawn from the lot- Upon this slip was the name — Glyndon. 
All a game of chance, and yet fate was fair, indeed, for what 
more musical name could have been choson than Glyndon. 
Glyndon ! It almost sings itself as you say it. 

Many people from the city sought this delightful home-like 
place for a summer home, away from the dust and heat of the 
c'ty ,and many came to be near the Emory Grove Camp Meeting 
Ground in the vicinity. The old Temperance Camp, now called 
Glyndon Park, attracted a number also. Three churches, a school, 
a club house, and many other buildings have been added to pro- 
vide comfort to the permanent residents whose ninnbers are 
gradually increasing. Adapted, Lidu Haiiiack. 

BEFORE THE RAILROADS— TAVERNS AND 
THEIR PATRONS. 

The only avenues of trade between the waterfront and the 
West, before the railroads were bu'lt, were turnpikes, and the 
Reistcrstown and Westminster turnpike was one of the main 
channels over whidi the long caravans of covered wagons, 
loaded with the products of the West, journeyed to Baltimore 
from Pittsburgh and Wheeling, and returned loaded with mer- 
chand'se for the frontier men. 

People who sought a home in the West traveled over the 
national routes, and with their worldly possessions stowed in 
the wagons, would trudge along beside them, the women and chil- 
dren riding. At nightfall, when the tired teams would reach the 
taverns, there to jo'n with scores of others, an animated scene 
was presented. Drivers were unharnessing their horses and 



86 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

making "confusion worse confounded,"* until the watering and 
feeding of the animals finished, they would partake of their sup- 
pers and join in the sports for the night. 

A tavern on the line of traffic was a source of profit, and 
although there was a tavern for almost each mile of turnpike, 
they all flourished. 

From the records available it appears that about 1830 there 
v/ere no less than five "Taverns" in Reisterstown. 

At the intersection of the Westminster and Hanover turn- 
p'ke was Ducker's Tavern. It was owned by Captain Jeremiah 
Ducker, who was also one of the leading merchants and land- 
owners in town. He was one of the old defenders, having served 
a? captain of a company of militia in the War of 1812, participat- 
ing in the battle of North Point. 

Following the turnpike, the next tavern was located where 
the hall is now situated. This tavern was in charge of George 
Fisher- 

"Forney's" was a household word with the traveling public, 
for its reputation reached from Baltimore to Pittsburgh. It was 
located on the Reisterstown turnpike, north of Chattsworth Ave- 
nue, and was dismantled about thirty years ago. 

It was always under the management of the Forneys, who 
catered to the wealthier class of visitors. 

These were the days when trolley cars were unknown, and 
intercourse with the city was by private conveyance or by the 
four-horse, leather spring mail coach. The fashionable people of 
Baltimore hied to "Forney's", sure of enjoying hospitalities ob- 
tainable nowhere else outside of Baltimore. Among the promi- 
nent guests who have been entertained there, were General La- 
fayette and Hon. Henry Clay, events which contributed to local 
pride. 

The "Yellow Tavern' was located on the site of the present 
Central Hotel. This was one of the oldest taverns between West- 
minster and Baltimore, and was quite popular. 

The "Yellow Tavern" was always a popular stopping place 
for the market wagons that journeyed from the Blue Ridge to 
Baltimore, and many wonderful "stories" have been told around 
the old-fashioned ten-plate stove that gave warmth to the trav- 
elers while storms raged without. 

Where the postoffice is now located, and including the 
grounds of the Gore and Stocksdale properties was the Sumwalt 



OXCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 8/ 

Tavern. It was own by Mr. Sumwalt, who was also one of the 
largest land owners in the town. 

Passing out of Reisterstown, the next tavern was William 
King's, now known as Hooper property, which closed its doors 
about the beginning of the Civil War. 

The "Calico" House, or the Fourteen Mile House, came next. 
It is still standing, though long ago went out of business as a 
tavern. It is said of William Dwyer, the manager of this tavern, 
that when his bed time arrived, he would put the decanter of 
whiskey and a pitcher of water on the bar counter, and, tell'.ng 
the guests to help themselves, would retire, and woe to the one 
who dared to disturb his rest. 

"Great's' was the next on the turnpike. With the decline of 
custom it closed it doors as a tavern and was remodelled, becom- 
ing a handsome private residence, and is now owned by Mr- Gil- 
more. 

The "Eight Square House," near Owings Mills, was run by 
Daniel Shugars. It has long since passed out of remembrance as 
a tavern, and is now the property of H. Y. Dolfield. 

The tavern at Owings M'lls was known as Conn's, who con- 
ducted it for a long time and sold out to Henry Filch, who con- 
ducted a tavern and store, finally closing out as travel diminished. 

These taverns of Reisterstown and vicinity sheltered the 
travelers of the older days, and contr-buted to the prosperity of 
the community. Only the oldest inhabitants remember them, and 
they recall the days when the streets of Reisterstown were all 
day long filled with trains of loaded wagons pass'ng to and fro. 

Regular transportation lines were maintained to transport 
goods from the West over the turnpikes. Long lines of old- 
fashioned Conestoga wagons, drawn by from four to six horses, 
daily wended their way between these points, loaded with flour, 
leather and other goods and produce, to be unloaded at the 
water's edge in P>altimore and returned loaded with dry goods, 
groceries, and other things for people along the Ohio River. The 
owners of these teams followed them in old ram-shackled buggies, 
stopping from place to place, trading horses and indulging in all 
kinds of sports. The hired drivers would have a jolly t'me as 
their employers. When time came to retire they would unload 
their bedding on the tavern floors and turn in for the night. 

In the winter farmers along the route would put extra teams 
on the road and engage in the transportation of merchandise. 



88 REAI, STORIES FROM BALTIMORE) COUNTY HISTORY 

These teams were known as "militia," and were held in derision 
by the regular teamsters. The roads were kept in good condi- 
tion, and a trip between Baltimore and Pittsburgh took from 
iwo to three weeks. 

Emigrants going West used this method of transportation, 
and often a hundred or more men, women and children would 
take turns in riding and walking on or beside two or three of 
these wagons, on which would be loaded their boxes and luggage, 
vvhiling away the time in singing and merry-making, as they 
trudged along. 

At n'ght the large tavern yards would be filled with wagons, 
the horses haltered to either side of long troughs filled with feed, 
there to remain during the night, while the tired drivers joined in 
the fun long into the night. 

It was no uncommon sight to see from fifty to a hundred 
of these canopied wagons I'ned on either side of the turnpike, 
leaving only passage room for vehicles to pass- 

With the completion of the B. & O. R. R. to Wheeling, 
this means of transportation rapidly passed away, and with the 
withdrawal of the four-wheeled freighters from the turnpikes, 
the glory of the old taverns passed away. The modern hotel, 
with its improved methods, has been evolved from the old-time 
county tavern. Nellye M. Gorsiich. 

MONTROSE— ONCE THE HOME OF A KING. 

About three miles north of Reisterstown, in the most pic- 
turesque part of Baltimore County, is situated Montrose, famous 
as having on it the only buildings erected by a king on the soil 
of the United States. 

Then, too, there is a historical romance connected with Mont- 
rose which is of general interest. 

In 1803 Jerome Bonaparte, the youngest brother of the Em- 
peror Napoleon of France, lived in Baltimore and was married 
to Elizabeth Patterson, the beaut' ful daughter of William Patter- 
son, a wealthy resident of Baltimore. 

The Emperor was very angry when he heard of the mar- 
riage and refused to recognize it. In order to persuade his 
])rothcr to give up his beautiful American wife, Napoleon made 
him King of Westphaka; but he would not permit Madame Bona- 
parte to land on French soil. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 89 

The French government bought Montrose in the name of 
Jerome and furnished the money to erect the buildings at the 
time, when the intention was to settle an income on Jerome and 
allow him to live in the United States. 

Jerome and his American wife were not to enjoy together 
the mansion being built for them, for shortly after their mar- 
riage they sailed for France with the intention of establishing 
Madame Bonaparte's rights as a member of the royal family. 

Napoleon, however, hearing of this, forbid her landing on 
French soil. She was compelled to part with her husband and 
make her home in London. Jerome continued his journey and 
was crowned King of Westphalia, giving up his beautiful wife 
to please his brother. 

Madame Bonaparte, with her son, returned to the United 
States and lived at Montrose until 1840, when they moved to 
Baltimore. 

Montrose contains six hundred acres, and is bordered on 
two sides by county roads and 0:1 the third by the Western Mary- 
land Railroad. The soil is very fertile and large crops are an- 
nually gathered. The orchards of peach, apple and pear trees 
are of the finest varieties. 

The entrance is by a winding road leading from the Hanover 
turnp'ke at Woodensburg. This road is about a half mile long and 
is noted for its beautiful scenery. 

The villa is situated in a grove of trees, which if they could 
speak, could tell of rare events that have occurred within those 
ivy-covered walls. As you approach the mansion, a long box- 
wood walk attracts the attention. It is known as "Josephine s 
Walk,' the boxwood borders of which were planted by Jerome 
more than a century ago. This was Madame Bonaparte's fa- 
vorite walk. In front of the mansion is a large circular drive 
lined by rare plants, perpetual blooming roses, making the air 
?weet with their fragrance, and fringed by a border of box wood. 

Pass'ng around the mansion one almost believes that he is 
in another clime, when the stately evergreens, long rows of 
hydrangeas, poppies, hollyhocks, everblooming roses and other 
plants of marvelous beauty catch the eye; among these is a yew 
tree that was planted by Jerome and said to have been brought 
by him from France. 

The mansion, which is built of granite, has a half basement 
and three stories. There are twenty- four rooms besides halls, 



go REAL STORIIiS FROM BALTIMORE) COUNTY HISTORY 

pantries, bathrooms, etc., and verandas and courts appear in un- 
expected places. 

The banquet hall is especially interesting with its waxed 
floors and recessed windows. Standing on the threshold of this 
hall one can picture the stirring scenes of long ago, when the fash- 
ion and beauty of the olden days were entertained in these halls. 

Nowhere in the State of Maryland is there landed property 
that has more romance associated with it, or which was the home 
of one who has filled so large a part of history, and commanded 
the sympathy of so many in this country as well as in Europe, as 
Montrose, once the home of Elizabeth Patterson, the wife of 
Jerome Bonaparte. Nelly e M. G or such. 

THE ELMS- 

Bordering the Westminster turnpike for about one mile, at 
Glen Falls, a small station on the Western Maryland Railroad, 
two and one-half miles west of ReisterstoVvn, is located a prop- 
erty famous as having once been the home of Francis Scott Key, 
Jr., son of the author of the national poem, "The Star Spangled 
Banner." 

The "Elms", named from the long rows of stately elms 
which lined the winding driveway leading from the turnpike to 
the mansion, now embraces about two hundred and twenty-five 
acres, though at one t'ime it was part of a large tract of land 
from which was taken the historical estate. "Montrose," formerly 
the home of the Bonapartes. The colonial mansion, two and a 
half stories high, with wide dormer windows, was built the latter 
part of the eighteenth century, and bears the impress of the ex- 
pensive primitive methods of the early colonial homes. The 
walls are stone, reared on a foundation three feet thick. 

The nails used in the building are all hand made. The shut- 
ter-hinges were forged by the smith and screwed into the case- 
ments. The interior woodwork is a marvel of patience and skill, 
having been finished and carved by hand with chisel and gouge. 

There are fifteen rooms in the dwelling, and when built it 
was by far the most important estate in the section, with but few 
surpassing it in the State. 

The mansion fronted on the old "Rolling" road, but when the 
Westminster and Reisterstown turnpike was built in 1805-08, the 
rear of the building faced the new turnpike, to reach which a 
winding driveway was made, and lined with elm trees. 



ONCE UPON A TIMK IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 9I 

After the change in roads, additions were made to the origi- 
nal building, porches and verandas being added so that what was 
formerly the rear of the house has been made the front entrance. 
In the kitchen is the "dutch oven," which was such an important 
part of the domestic life of our ancestors, and there still hangs 
in the large fireplace the old-fash:"oned crane and hangers on 
which were hung the pots and kettles used in preparing the meals. 

The lavish entertainments given by the different owners of 
the "Elms" to the young people of Baltimore and the surround- 
ing country are talked of by the older inhabitants to th-s day. 

To the left of the turnpike at the foot of the hill, on the 
bank of the main branch of the Patapsco River stands the stone 
walls of the old grist mill, built at the time the mansion was 
erected, to grind the cereals raised on the farm, as well as those 
of the neighbors. Long years ago the old mill was made into a 
dwelling and now stands deserted. 

Francis Scott Key, Jr., owned and occupied the "Elms" 
from 1835 to 1850. Mr. Key was a type of the old school of 
Maryland gentleman. He was generous, impuls've, fond and 
good living, and entertained lavishly. He dressed in colonial 
style, wore knickerbockers, blue coat, with brass buttons, buff 
vest, low shoes with buckles, powdered wig with queue, walked 
with a stout cane. He was very affable and genial. He came 
to Reisterstown for h's mail, and was acquainted with every- 
body in the village, and always had a pleasant word for all he met. 

Francis Scott Key was a frequent visitor at the "Elms" 
while his son owned the property. 

Mr. Key sold the property in 1850. The late John J. Gray 
became the owner, in 1869, and the property is at the present 
time 'in the possession of his daughters, the Misses Frances and 
Ellen Gray. 

Time in its flight has gradually worked many changes in 
the original surroundings. The stately elms have succumbed and 
locusts have taken their places; the gate-keeper's lodge serves 
the purpose of a tenant house ; the original outbu'ldings have 
given place to modern structures, and, except the colonial man- 
sion, which still defies the ravages of time, the glories of the past 
are written in memories. Ncllyc M . Corsiicli. 

BEGINNERS IN PIKESVILLE. 
It was a beaut" ful day in early June. It was Dinssom time. 
Trees, shrubs, {plants vied with each other in their floral array. 



92 RKAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Birds sang cheerily to their mates, for did not cherry blossoms 
promise cherries by and by? Wild cherry, oak, popbr and 
chestnut trees lined the roadway that stretched far to the north- 
ward and far to the southward. In the June sunshine up and 
over the hill the road stretched like a yellow ribbon with the great 
trees casting their grateful shade along the way. 

Several horsemen came into view and as they drew near one 
knew that both man and beast were weary with a long jaunt 
across the country- They had been traveling since early morning 
and now were looking for a place to rest and to feast before 
completing their journey to Baltimore Town. These gentlemen 
were returning to Baltimore Town from York along this road, 
which we now call Reisterstown pike. 

Under the cooling shade of the great oaks they sat and 
lested. Finding the spot a pleasant one they began to explore 
a b't, hoping to quench their thirst at a spring or stream. They 
found both not so far away. Near the foot of an old tree a 
spring of bubbling water greeted them, and all around were signs 
of fertile soil. Attracted by the beauty of the spot one man 
said, "If I ever leave Baltimore Town, I shall come here to build 
my home. No fairer spot have I seen on this journey." 

"Nor likely to see again, ' said another. 

THE FIRST SETTLERS. 

Some time after, on one clear morning, strange things were 
happening in this woods. A man and his son had appeared here 
one day not long before, tied their horses and looked about for 
a spot on wh'ch to erect a cabin. "Here, father," said one, "is a 
nice knoll. Can't we bu'ld our house here?" 

"Yes, son," replied Mr. Beacham, for it was he who. had said 
to his roadside friends, "Here will I build my home, here will I 
stay." 

Father and sons worked here many days, cutting down 
trees and at last the log cab'n was built. When it was ready 
Mrs. Beacham and some smaller children came to live here. This 
was about 1770, five years before the Revolutionary War. The 
original house is still standing, an old landmark in the village of 
Pikesv'Ue. 

Here the Beacham family lived quietly and happily. After 
a time another family settled in the same neighborhood, though 
some distance away. They, too, built their house by the road- 
side. A few others came out in the wilderness as time went 



ONCIC L'VOS A TlMF. IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 93 

on, but as late as 1813 there were only six or seven houses scat- 
tered along the pike. 

HOW THE village; re^cfUved its name. 
West of the Beacham home was a very large tract known as 
the Sudbrook estate, owned by a Dr. Smith. It is now the 
IMcHenry farm. Dr. Smith had a dear friend who was fighting 
in the War of 181 2, the second war with England, whose name 
was Brigad'er General Pike. At the storming of New York, 
now the city of Toronto, Georgia, Pike was killed, April 27th, 
18 1 3. Dr. Smith was much grieved at the loss of his friend, and 
wish'ng to honor him, proposed the name of Pikesville for the 
little village, so the village was named after a brave gentleman 
who gave his life for his country. 

a sleepy village. 

Pikesville did not grow very fast, although no pleasanter 
si)Ot for a home could be found. It was a sleepy little commu- 
nity, quite content to spend the days in peaceful rest. Mr. 
Walker, of Baltimore, owned a large estate east of the village, 
and deciding to buy a tract of land known as the Geissendafifer 
ertate, he cut out an avenue through the center of the property 
and called it ^^'alker avenue- He did more than this ; he laid 
off the land into building lots, for in his mind's eye he saw a 
fair little village springing up in this fair spot. Strange to re- 
late, this 's just what happened. The village grew slowly, but it 
grew surely. 

Many people traveled along this road in those days on their 
way from Baltimore to York. Very often they spent the night 
and rested their horses at Pikesville. It is surprising how many 
roadhouses and taverns were scattered along the route of travel, 
but horses as well as travelers needed rest. So, in 1794, a large 
brick building was built known as the "Old Burnt House' Tav- 
ern. Men of the village gathered here to hear the news of the 
outside world. Can't you see them sitting around the door under 
the big oak trees, chairs tilted back, or swing'ng idly on some 
discarded box, listening to the gossip of the town eight miles 
away, 01 the happenings on Soldiers Delight Hundred or at Joppa. 
the county seat? This old building is now the home of the "Shut- 
in-Society." 

In 1 8 19 the sleepy old town became a militar)- post, the 
United States arsenal being estabb'shed here. Many years later, 
when a number of men who had fought in the hard battles of the 



94 REAL STORIES From Baltimore county history 

Civil war — (you will hear all about it sometime) — needed a 
!:ome, and the United States made the arsenal into a home, call- 
ing it the "Confederate Soldiers' Home.'' Some day we will visit 
there, for there are many interesting relics of other days to be 
seen, and the old soldiers have interesting stories to tell. 

You would expect this quiet town to be a village of churches. 
Many of the villagers attended St. Thomas' in the Valley, others 
went to Baltimore Town. 

Very early in the history of the little village, the people felt 
the need of a church close at home. The first church here was 
the Nettam Baptist Church, a little stone church built in 1834. 
Then the Roman Catholics wanted a church and established one 
in 1848. Later James A. McHenry gave the Presbyterians a small 
piece of land upon which to build a church which they called 
Sudbrook Presbyterian Church, after the estate of this name. 
This was built in 1868. The Episcopalians found it a long way 
to go to their church, and they bought this from the Presby- 
terians in 1876, and called it St. Marks. Some Methodists found 
that they were far from the'r church, so they built a little stone 
church for themselves in the village in 1875, and called it "Ames 
Chapel." Twenty years later the Southern Methodists built a 
church at Sudbrook, not so far away. 

As we look about the village today we find a bank, four 
general stores, one coal and wood yard, one saloon, one school, 
one volunteer fire company and a telephone exchange, many 
churches and many residences which give the place the air of 
I^rosperous ease and comfort and noticeable from the first. No 
factory whistles call the men to work, no chimneys send out smoke 
to taint the air, yet every man is busy. Almost all the men in 
Pikesville have trades. Many of them work outside the town on 
the fine farms of the neighborhood. There are carpenters, paper- 
hangers, painters and plumbers who help us in our village house- 
keeping. Besdes these there are seven storekeepers, four doc- 
tors, several florists, a shoemaker and a blacksmith. 

An electric line passes through the village, the Western 
Maryland Railroad touches it on its western border, and the 
Westminster jitney does a thriving business while automobiles 
find the nearby roads most attractive. 

Adapted, Isabel Disney. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 95 

PikcsviUe, 1770. 
I. Historic Buildings. 

1. Name — Old Beacham Homestead. 
Date — 1770. 

Historic significance : The first house erected in Pikesville. 
It is built in the style known in colonial days as a "double cabin,'' 
cons'sting of two sections, or cabins, some ten or twelve feet 
apart and connected by the roof, which extended across the open 
space between. 

Location — A part of th-'s old house is still standing. It 
faces the Old Court road about one hundred yards nortlieast of 
the Reisterstown road. 

2. Name — Old Burnt House Tavern, now called the Old 
Sudbrook House. 

Date — 1794. 

Historic significance: Used as a tavern by a Mr. R'ch- 
ardson. A number of years later it burnt out, hence its name. 
It now belongs to the McHenry estate and is loaned by one of the 
lieirs, Mrs. R. Brent Keyser, to the Maryland Branch of the Shut- 
in-Society for a fresh air or a holiday home for its pensioners. 

3. Name — The United States Arsenal now the Confederate 
Soldiers' Home. 

Date— 1816. 

Historic significance: Erected by the United States Govern- 
ment as a place for storing military supplies for use of forces 
operating in the vicinity of Baltimore. It was abandoned as a 
military post in 1880 and turned over by our Federal Govern- 
ment to the State of Maryland. No use was made of it by the 
State until in 1888, when it was given up for the use of a home 
for the Confederate soldiers. 

The old powder magazine, built in 1816, still stands on the 
same grounds. 

4. Name — Old Fort Garrison. 
Date — 1693. 

Historic significance: Used for defense against Indians and 
in French and Indian war. 

Location : On the Moore estate. 

II. Historic S tes. 

I. The Matthai Farm. 

Entrance to this is old and artistic ; located d'rectly on the 
Reistertown road. Built long before the Civil War. Back of 



96 KKAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

the entrance is the old mans'on built during the Civil War. At 
one side can be seen the old slave quarters, built in 1733, and 
used as a lodging for the plantation slaves. To the front is a 
tree of immense size. Near this tree is where Harry Gilmor 
was captured while making raids through the country- He was 
arrested as a Confederate spy. 

2. The old Sudbrook estate. 

This was originally owned by Dr. James Smith, now owned 
by the heirs of Howard McITenry. The home on this property 
is famous in history during the Civil War. The only spot not 
owned by the McHenry's is an old tomb. This is where Colonel 
Johnson, a young oflicer who fought in the Revolution, is 
buried. The date on the tomb is September 1797. Just back of 
this tomb is an old vault where the Southern mail was hidden 
during the Civil War. 

3. Grey Rock Farm. 

Or'ginally owned by the famous Howard family. It is said 
that John Eager Howard was buried in the little graveyard on 
this farm. 

4. Indian Hill. 

So named because it is supposed that Indians lived here. 
This is beh'eved because some of the Indians' fighting implements 
have been found here. Located in the southeastern part of the 
village- • 

HI. Churches. 

1. Old Nettam Baptist Church. 

Date of building 1834, said to be the oldest church in Pikes- 
ville. First pastor, Joseph Nettam, from Chesterfield, England. 
Location, Old Court road. 

2. Stone Chapel M. E. Church. 

Date of building, 1786. One of the oldest Methodist churches 
in tlie country. Located upon a site that was once occupied by a 
college. Location, about two miles northeast of the village of 
Pikesville. 

3. St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. 

Date of building, 1743. It was first known as a "chapel of 
ease for the forest inhabitants." In 1745 Lord Baltimore made 
Thomas Cradock the first rector. In 1755. after the defeat of 
Braddock at I'ittsburgh. large parties of Indians passed near St. 
Thomas' Church plundering and murdering. The men of the 
congregation carried their guns to church with them. Later 



O.NCK UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 9/ 

on Mr. Cradock opened a school for young men here, and among 
his pupils were some of Maryland's oldest and best families. 
Location, some distance above rikcsville on the old pike. 
IV. Schools. 

1. Name, Pikesville School. First school house in 1829. 
Historic significance : Erected by Dr. James Smith, founder of 
the village- The first school master was a Mr. Colley, who died 
way back in the '40's. Location, Old Court road, adjoining the 
old Nettam Baptist Church. 

2. The second school house was built in 1859. First teacher 
was a nephew of the Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. 

The third school building was erected on the site given by 
the Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers and adjoins the old 
L'^nited States Arsenal. 

BUa L. Stnith. 

THE McHENRY HOME. 

Tlu- (jld Mcllenry homestead lies just to the west of Pikes- 
ville. The estate originally consisted of more than a thousand 
acres, but it could not be called a plantation. Nor could the house 
really be called a manor house, because it was built after colonial 
times, and in rather a difiierent style. The whole place figured 
in Civil War times rather than in Revolutionary. About the 
year i860, Mr. McHenry decided to enlarge his home. He 
wished to have this added portion of stone, and four stories 
high. By the time the plans were fully decided upon the war 
was raging, and an event occurred which prevented Mr. Mc- 
Henry from carrying out his plans as he wished. The whole 
family were staunch sympathizers with the South. Miss Cary. a 
sister of Mrs. McHenry, made her home with them. She was 
accused of committing several acts which deliberately violated 
the .strict nn'l'tary regulations then in force. (3ne of these had 
to do with carrying a flag through the Union lines. To avoid 
the trouble which was threatening, Mr. McHenry, taking his 
family and M'ss Cary, went to Europe until the affair was some- 
what forgotten. The house was under way when they started, 
and was completed as soon as jiossible. Consequently, it con- 
sisted of two stories instead of four. In 1904 this stone part, 
which contained about forty rooms, burned, while the older 
frame part was uninjured. It is st'U standing — a delightful, 
rambling old place, with its handmade doors and old English 



98 REAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMOKF; COUNTY HISTORY 

kitchen finished in brick. The McHenry family has not Hved 
on the place for nearly twenty years, but they have not lost their 
fondness for it. 

It is historically significant as one of the relay stations in 
the underground mail system which the Sovith maintained during 
the war. The mail was often kept here for several days at a 
time, while an exchange of carriers was made or while the carrier 
arranged his disguise. One carrier who died only a few years 
ago, was fond of telling how he disguised once as a veterinarian, 
and at another time as a peddler. The hiding place for the mail 
was a secret vault in the stone wall of one of the old build"ngs. 
This vault was opened from the cellar. The walls of this build- 
ing fell in some years ago, but the stone foundation remains. 
The Northerns knew that the mail was kept somewhere on the 
place, and soldiers were frequently sent to search for it. They 
never found it, however. They always believed it was hidden 
in a dry cistern in the cellar of the McHenry home, and several 
searches were instituted At one time, we are told, three sol- 
diers came, entered the house and proceeded to the cellar, fol- 
lowed by Miss Gary and other members of the family. The story 
runs that Miss Gary, very much enraged, insisted on pushing 
down into this cistern the man who stood on guard while the 
other two were searching below. Her plan was to tightly cover 
the cistern then in order to prevent the men from escaping. It 
is sa'd that a good deal of persuasion was necessary in order 
to dissuade her from doing as she wished. 

A few hundred yards from the house is one spot on the 
estate which does not really belong to the McHenry family. This 
is an old private burying ground of the Johnston family of Bal- 
t'more Gounty. Today it is an overgrown mass of gum trees, 
honey-suckle, mock-oranges and myrtle. One stone remains, 
which was broken a few years ago when a tree fell across it, but 
which was immediately restored. It consists of an oblong stone 
an inch or so thick, and about the size of an ordinary library 
table. It rests horizontally on four supports, about fifteen inches 
from the ground. It contains these words : 

"In memory of Gaptain Gaecilius Johnston son of Thomas 
and Anne Johnson of Baltimore Gounty, who departed this life 
September 26th, 1797, aged 26 years and 11 months. ' 

Margaret F. Coe. 



ONCE UPON A time; IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 99 

THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS' HOME. 
1812. 

The Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers' Home, of Pikes- 
ville, was owned and occupied by the United States Government 
as an arsenal many years ago. 

Shortly after the close of the second war between the United 
States and England, the War of 1812, our Government, fearing 
another war, decided to erect su'table places for the manufacture 
and storage of military supplies. Among the sites selected for 
such a post was Pikesville, then a hamlet of about a dozen 
houses, but its situation being on one of the main turnpikes made 
it a desirable location. A piece of land, adjoining the village on 
the southeast, was purchased by the Government from Dr. James 
Smith of Sudbrook. 

The site contained between fourteen and fifteen acres, for 
v.hich $895.00 was paid. Dr. Smith may be termed the founder 
of Pikesville as he owned at that time three-fourths of the land 
upon which the village is situated and also gave to it its name, 
"Pikesville," in honor of the brave General Zebulon Montgomery 
Pike, who was killed at the storming of Little York, Canada, 
April 27, 1813. 

The purchase was made in the year 1816, and the erection 
of the building was commenced. In about two years the work 
was finished and opened as a Government post, with Lieutenant 
Nehemiah Baden as its first commandant. 

Dances and picnics were held in the old arsenal and were 
attended by the aristocracy of the neighborhood. 

Captain Baden was succeeded by many officers. Colonel 
Hughes, who was a native of South Carolina, was the command- 
ant from 1856 to 1861. He resigned his commission in the regu- 
lar army and entered the service of the Confederacy at the be- 
ginning of the Civil War. 

At the commencement of the Civil War the arsenal was 
seized by the "Garrison h'orest Rangers," commanded by Captain 
Wilson C. Nicholas, a local company in sympathy with the South. 
They were driven out by the Federal forces, who were ordered 
to take possession of the arsenal. During the war the post was 
occupied by regiments from Wisconsin, Indiana, Philadelphia, the 
First and Second Maryland, and others. 

In 1878 Congress passed an act authorizing the gift of the 
entire property to the State of Maryland for the use of the State 



lOO REAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMORK COUNTY HISTORY 

militia, provided the property be accepted before March i, 1880. 

The Legislature of Maryland was asked to convey the prop- 
erty known as the Pikesville Arsenal to the Association of the 
Maryland Line, for the establishment of a soldiers' home for the 
Confederates in the State of Maryland. 

The bill was passed in February, 1888, and the property was 
transferred to the association and also an appropriation of $5,000 
per year for the repair and support of the home. 

OPENING OF THE HOME. 

At the time of transfer the entire group of buildings was in 
need of a thorough repair. Work was commenced in April, 1888, 
and in June the opening and dedication were held. 

It was determined from the first to make the institution a 
home for those who sought its protecting care. This view has 
been held in the furnishing of the rooms and the rules enacted 
for the government of the inmates. 

The separate buildings have been named for distinguished 
Maryland Confederate soldiers and sailors and the rooms have 
been furnished as memorials by friends and relatives of some 
loved one who gave his life for the cause. 

Each room is furnished in a neat and attractive manner. The 
name of each room is placed over the door, so it can be seen at 
a glance. 

Perhaps the most interesting point in the home is found in 
the Rel'-c Hall, a large room on the first floor of the Trimble 
Building. Here are gathered together many things that once 
belonged to the heroes who wore the gray. 

The Home has filled its purpose in providing for the wants 
of those who wore the gray and followed the stars and bars 
through the battle cloud. 

The inmates wear their gray uniform and slouch hats, and 
every one of them, even to the cri])pled, has some daily task, 
according to his strength. The work is all detailed and every 
department has its squad. Whatever the service required of 
the old soldiers it is willingly done, and the Home always looks 
neat and the inmates are contented with their lot. 

The Home is a delightful place to visit and visitors are 
always welcomed by the old soldiers, whose delight it is to en- 
tertain their friends with stories of the brave deeds in which they 
took part in the days long passed. 

Nellxc M. Gorsitch. 



ONCE UPON" A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY lOI 

GRANDFATHER'S STORY. 

Grandfather sat in his armchair and looked away across 
the country. At his feet were the homes of the suburbanites- 
tiny toy houses in httle square lots ; to the east, across the lovely 
rolling country, lay the fertile fields of well-kept, thriving farms, 
while farther still to the south, a fairy city on the horizon, lay 
Baltimore Town witii its harbor of white-sailed ships- 
It was very still. Grandfather's home stood so high on the 
long hill that a car whizzing along far down on the road sent up 
only a faint singing sound to tlie ears, and the "honk honk' of a 
machine sounded no louder than the croaking of a marsh frog. 

Clang ! Rattle ! Bang ! musket and sword rounded the 
corner, and a soldier in full uniform bounded up the steps, and 
ran full tilt on the porch. Grandfather started, but did not seem 
alarmed. You see, the soldier was very small, eight years old, 
and short for that, but there was no mistake about his profession. 
A sword hung at his side, a gun pointed across his shoulder, and 
a trumpet was slung on his back. 

"Oh, grandfather," he panted, "I have just escaped. The 
Yankees nearly got me." 

"Well, well. Captain Brant, a good run is better than a bad 
stand. But sit down, you look warm and tired, and a little rest 
will do you good." 

"Those Yankees are fast runners,"' continued the young 
captain, stacking his sword and gun against the railing of the\ 
porch, and taking a seat with great dignity. "How about the 
time you ran away: Tell me about it, won't you, grandfather? ' 

"Ha ! Ha ! that was a fine getaway, to be sure," exclaimed 
the f)ld man. "Let me see! Tt was in May, 1861 I had gradu- 
ated from the Virginja Military Institute at Lexington, and 
studied two years at the Columbia College of Medicine, fully in- 
tending to be a doctor. My, what a bean pole I was — six feet 
tall and only we'ghed 121 pounds" 

"But the story, grandfather, the story!" 

"Yes, yes, Captain! It was on my birthday, on the twentieth 
of May, that T left home to join the army. I had been north to 
the Pennsylvania line, trying to keep the ^'ankees from coming 
through Maryland. I was at home again, however, helping father 
in the fields, when 1 heard that men were coming to arrest me 
for burning bridges. I decided to go south at once, and really 
get into the fight- I can see mother now. standing at the back 



I02 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

door of the old home. Ah, it burned down twenty-three years 
ago. I said: 'Mother, I am going soutli — good-by ! and I kissed 
her. She thought I was foohng, and did not answer. ' 

"Did you ask your father?' said Brant. 

"Oh, no," chuckled the old gentleman. "He would have said 
that I couldn't go." Brant chuckled, too. 

"Well, did you walk?' he next inquired. 

"No indeed! I rode my horse, and took my gun with me. 
Mother thought I was going to see the Burgan boys, and I rode 
slowly down the road. ' 

"Slowly? When the Yankees were ^fter you?" 

"Of course. If I had gone fast, people could have said that 
they had seen a man running away, and I would have been caught. 
Well, after hard riding, I reached Frederickstown at noon, and 
from there rode to Harper's Ferry. As I rode along the bank 
of the r'ver in the direction of the bridge, I saw about fifty men 
in uniform riding down the two paths towards me. I could not 
go forward, and I would not go 'oack • there was but one chance, 
and I took it. I made my horse swim across the river. The 
Yankees saw me, and began to shoot," the white head ducked 
involuntarily, "but I got into the water, and held on to the horse's 
tail, until I reached the shore. Here I was within the Southern 
lines and safe, so I went to Shepherdstown." 

Brant laughed. "You fooled the Yankees that time all right. 
But didn't they go to your home for you?" 

"They did indeed, and that was a joke. When they came 
they asked for Mr. Thomas Gatch. 'He is at Towson,' said 
father, never thinking of me. So to Towson they went, only to 
find my Uncle Thomas, a blind man, and they couldn't take him, 
for as he said, how could a blind man fight in an army and burn 
bridges." 

Brant nodded his dark head in grave satisfaction. "And 
so you got away." 

"Yes. I went to Romney, and was made captain of forty 
men." 

"And had a fight?" 

"My first battle was at Greenstown. I fought with a hatchet, 
but the Yankees had long range guns, and we soon fell back. 
They killed the brother of our commander that day- Then we 
fought at Romney, West Virginia; at Charleston, at the battle of 
Bulwer Heights and at Manassah." 



ONCK UPON A TiAriC IN vOUR TOWN AND VICINITY IO3 

"Did 3-011 camp out at night, or sleep in tents?" 

"We camped mostly without tents. Once I was on picket 
duty in the Alleghanies from Sunday to Thursday, with snow 
on the ground and nothing to eat but hickory nuts. Cold ? I 
should say so. Some of Stonewall Jackson's men, who came 
from Georgia and had never seen snow before, froze to death.'' 

Brant sighed. "It's a wonder you lived to be my grand- 
father," he said. 

"Laddie,'' answered the old man, his blue eyes alight with 
th.e fire of memory, "I was a very weak boy when I went into 
the war. I had been sickly all my life. But I came out a strong 
man, and I have never been sick a day since." 

"When I grow up I shall be a soldier, ' said Brant. 

"Then you had better come to supper and grow fast," came 
from a voxe behind them, and the two brave soldiers turned to 
find grandmother standing on the porch and laughing at them. 

Carolyne Oyenum. 

COLONEL JOHN EAGER HOWARD. 

About one and one-half miles north of Pikesville lies an es- 
tate known as "Grey Rock. ' It is of interest to us because many 
years ago "Grey Rock." originally known as "Howard's Square, ' 
belonged to Joshua Howard, the grandfather of one who has 
written his name on the pages of our national, state and local 
history — General John Eager Howard. 

Joshua Howard, the first of the name to settle in Maryland, 
received a tract of land granted by the crown in 1698, under the 
name of "Howard's Square-" 

Jo.shua Howard left his father's house, near Manchester, 
England, "when very young, ' without permission and joined the 
army of the Duke of York (afterward James II), during the 
Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, and then emigrated to America, 
rather than return home to face his father's d'spleasure. 

He married in this country Joanna O'Carroll, whose father 
emigrated from Ireland. Joshua Howard died in 17/38. and his 
son Cornelius married Ruth Eager and inherited "Howard 
Square,'' and his w'fe was sole heiress of the Eager property in 
Baltimore Town. Mr. Howard obtained large tracts of land m 
the country, consolidating the tracts under a larger grant called 
"Roslyn."' 

Mr. Howard was greatly interested in the growth of Bal- 
timore Town, ad'hiig to it in 1765 that parjt south of Saratoga 



104 RKAL STORU'.S FROM liAUTI ,M()RK COUxMTY HISTORY 

Street, between Forest (now Charles street) and Liberty, includ- 
ing Conway and Barre streets. He also made a survey of the 
town. 

An old diary says that in 1812, an old house which belonged 
to him stood opposite Hanover Market, and his barns and stables 
covered the site of the market. When a number of French 
Acadians found refuge in the town during the French and In- 
dian war, he allowed them to sleep in his barnyard, which they 
covered with hay and straw. 

John Eager Howard, the second son of Cornelius Howard 
and Ruth Eager, was born June 4, 1752, on the old estate of his 
grandfather, Joshua. 

He was a man of few words, and seldom spoke of his family 
or descent ; but he once said to his own son George that none of 
the Howard families in Maryland -were related to his own. A 
framed coat-of-arms, painted upon copper, and inscribed, "How- 
ard, Earl of Arundel,' hung over the desk in his private office, 
liowever, showing that he had some pride of descent. 

Jolm Eager Howard had no profession. He adopted that 
of military life, and when the colonies rebelled against English 
rule, flying camps of militia were formed in Maryland and he ac- 
cepted the office of captain in one of these, under Colonel I. 
Carvel Hall, a commission dependent upon his ability to recruit 
thirty men. He raised the company in two days and joined the 
army- He served until the militia was replaced by regular troops 
which Congress required each state to furnish. 

Captain Howard was appointed major in one of the seven 
Maryland regiments. Two years later he was promoted to lieu- 
tenant colonel of the Fifth, and finally succeeded to the command 
of the Second Maryland, Continental Line. 

At the battle of Germantown, while major of the Fourth 
Maryland Lifantry, he showed the cool courage for which he was 
ever after distinguished. Colonel Hall was disabled and Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Samuel Smith, having been detached to Fort Miffin, 
the command developed upon Major Howard, and well did he 
perform his duty. Major Howard is related to have "pursued 
them through their encampment ; passing with his regiment amidst 
their tents, and advancing about a quarter of a mile further to- 
wards tlte main body of the British army, where they took posi- 
tion until the imsuccessful attack u])()n Chew's house caused a 
retreat." 



ONCK UPON A TIMK TX OUR TOWN AND VICINTTY IO5 

Colonel Howard took part in the fight at Monmouth, hi 1778, 
and remained with the army until the Maryland and Delaware 
troops were sent south to the relief of Charleston, South Caro- 
lina. 

I^.efore going South, Colonel Howard stopped in Baltimore 
to arrange his personal affairs, because, as he afterwards said, 
"our march southward seemed to be a forlorn hope, and my 
return very uncertain.'" He sold some property and left fifty 
"half joes' in the hands of a friend, in case of his being taken 
prisoner. He also offered his property near Baltimore, called 
"Lunn's Lot." for sale, at the sum of $506. The offer was not 
accepted and Lunn's Lot is now covered by the streets^ and 
modern buildings of Baltimore, and the value is reckoned in mil- 
lions instead of $506. It was during the southern campaign that 
Colonel Howard achieved his greatest success. 

Dur'ng the retreat of the American army at the battle of 
Camden, Colonel Howard succeeded in keeping a few of his men 
together, and being joined occasionally by other officers and men, 
reached Charlotte, about sixty miles distant, three days after the 
fight. . When asked what he and his men found to eat during- 
those three days, he answered briefly, "Some peaches." 

At the battle of Cowpens Colonel Howard won the title of 
"The Hero of Cowpens. In this brilliant action at one time he 
held the swords of seven British officers who surrendered to 
him ])ersonally. He also rescued the British General O'Hara, 
who chuig to his stirru]) asking ]>rotection from the enraged 
soldiers. 

The effect of this victory was felt throughout the country. 
Congress voted medals to General Morgan and Colonel Howard 
and William Washington. 

In the engagement at Guilford Court House, Howard was 
again in the thickest of the fight, and the old Maryland regiment 
threw themselves upon the enemy, driving them headlong from 
the field. 

At Eutaw Si)rings. Howard and the brave Marylanders 
again distinguished themselves. Of this engag-ement Colonel 
Howard wrote, "Nearly one-half of my men were killed and 
wounded, and I had seven officers out of twelve disabled. 

Colonel Howard was wounded at the battle of Eutaw by a 
ball which ])assed through his left shoulder blade. It was so 
long before this wound was dressed that the surgeon told the 



Io6 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

attendant to watch him closely during the night, lest the wound 
should bleed afresh, as in that event the patient would die, if 
not immediately attended to. 

In the morning the Colonel surprised the surgeon by telling 
him that he had overheard his instructions and had decided to re- 
main awake himself. 

After receiving this wound he was furloughed home and 
was ill nearly a year at the residence of his friend, Dr. Thomas 
Cradock. 

At the close of the Revolution, Colonel Howard returned 
home, and like Washington, never received any pay for his ser- 
vices. 

He inherited from his father the fine estate of Belvedere, 
and built there a fine mansion, which was torn down years ago to 
make room for the extension of North Calvert street. 

Howard's Park was indeed a princely estate, including all 
that portion of Baltimore extending from Jones' Falls on the 
east to Eutaw street on the west, and from Pratt street to the 
northern limits of the city. This tract now includes all the most 
leautiful streets of Baltimore. 

Colonel Howard married Miss Margaret Chew, daughter of 
Chief Justice Senjamin Chew, of Pennsylvania. Their home 
soon became the center of attraction for the residents of Balti- 
more, and was the scene of many gay social events. When La- 
fayette paid his last visit to this country, he was honored with a 
splendid entertainment by the Howards, which was one of the 
most brilliant given him while in America. 

Colonel Howard was governor of Maryland from 1788 to 
1791. He was also United States Senator for a number of years. 

In the War of 18 12, when the British were threatening Balti- 
more, Colonel Howard was a member of the committee of vigi- 
lance and safety. One of the members suggested that it would 
be well to capitulate and save the city from destruction. The 
Colonel's answer was worthy the hero he had proved himself : 
"I have, I believe, as much property in the city as any of the 
committee, and I have four sons in the field, but sooner would I 
see my sons in their graves, and my property in ashes than listen 
to any suggestion of capitulation." 

After the death of his wife, his health began to fail, and 
after a short illness, he died, October 12, 1827. He left to his 
children a handsome estate, and to his fellow-citizens a beloved 
memory and an honored name. His funeral was attended by all 



once; upon a time in our town and vicinity 107 

classes of people, including President John Quincy Adams, and 
all the high officials of the state and nation, who came to pay this 
last tr bute of respect. 

Colonel Howard is buried in the old St. Paul's graveyard, 
in Baltimore City. In Baltimore are many public buildings, 
churches, squares and streets for which he gave the ground ; and 
any effort to remove any old market, engine-house or graveyard, 
to use the valuable ground for other purposes than it was do- 
nated, has been prevented by the expressed will of the donor, 
"that in the event of any change from the purpose of the gift, the 
ground was to return to his descendants." 

Benjamin C. Howard, who married Jane Gilmor, was the 
third son of Colonel Howard. He was for several years a 
member of Congress from Maryland, afterwards a reporter for 
the United States Supreme Court. 

His county seat was "Roslyn," an estate lying about a mile 
west of Pikesville, the private entrance opening upon that part of 
the Old Court road, now called Naylor's Lane, the country road 
leading from Pikesville to the Western Maryland Railroad. 

Mr. Howard commanded the esteem of his neighbors, rich 
and poor alike. It was his personal influence with Colonel Harry 
Gilmor, his nephew, that prevented the latter from destroying 
the United States Arsenal (now the Confederate Home), in 
Pikesville, which was occupied by troops, when he made his raid 
into the village, on the nth of July, 1864. 

Mr. Howard told Colonel Gilmor that the larger part of 
the residents of the village were Southern sympathizers and the 
Union force would retaliate by destroying the village- 

Nellye M. Gorsuch. 

COLONEL JOHN EAGER HOWARD. 
A Story. 

"j\ few dro])s of l)lood ; that is a small thing to give." said 
the old man jokingly as he liarcd his arm to the lancet. And the 
physician smiled, remembering what John Eager Howard had 
offered of his kfe's blood in the years gone by. 

"Yes," said the doctor, "back of this in=;ignificant spilling 
of blood is the old wound you took as your share from the battle 
of Germantown." 

And after the bleeding, as he lay there in the stillness of his 
room at Belvedere, his mind went traveling back through all the 
U<nt: years. 



I08 RKAL STORIES FROM BALTIAIORK COUNTY HISTORY 

He saw a little frame house on a wide stretch of farm land — 
the old home of the Howards near Pikesville. In the great fam- 
ily Bible he had read, "Born June 4, 1752, John Eager Howard,'" 
with the names of two brothers and two sisters. Those dear 
childhood days, how sweet the memory of them. 

Then he remembered himself as a tall young man going to 
join the American Army as captahi in a regiment made up of 
men from Baltimore and Harford Counties. Ah, the days of 
battle and of victories won ! He thought not of defeats. 

There was the battle of Germantown, when the call came to 
him to take the sick colonel's command and lead the men in the 
thickest of the fight. 

He remembered his liking for meeting the enemy in bayonet 
charges. Cowpens, Gu'lford, Eutaw, he lived through them all 
again. He could hear Morgan saying to him at Cowpens, where 
he had charged without orders, "You have done well, for you 
are successful ; had you failed, I would have shot you.'" 

From this war of his youthful days his mind leaped to the 
War of 1 81 2, that came when he was too old to enlist, but he had 
sent four sons instead. 

He remembered his indignation when some property-holders 
of Balt'more had proposed to yield when the city had been 
threatened. He had said, "I have as much property at stake as 
most persons, and I have four sons in the field ; but sooner 
would I see my sons weltering in their blood, and my property 
in ashes than so far disgrace the country-" 

Yes, he had been a soldier, through and through, yet he 
remembered other days, when the people of his state had chosen 
him as governor for three successive years, and later (he had 
served in the State Senate as their representative in the Senate). 
Then he had been elected United States senator. He had served 
his country in peace as in war. 

He remembered his relations with George Washington, and 
how he had ofifered him a seat in his cabinet as Secretary of War. 

In all these honors of state he cherished the love of his 
friends, — honor with loi'c. 

But, woven into the fabric of all this dream of service to 
his country, was the ivarp that made it possible and now the 
memory of home became again both warp and woof. 

He thought of the beginning of his beloved Belvedere, the 
vast estate with its mansion shaded by grand old trees, not so 



ON civ UPON A TIMIv IN OUR TOWN AND N'ICINITV jQC) 

large now, for he had given much of it for the uiiprovenient of 
Baltimore, and in other ways. 

He had laid oft a spacious lot for a puhlic market — Lexing- 
ton Market ; had given ground for a court house, for the rectory 
of the old St. Paul's, and for Washington's Monument. But he 
begrudged none of it and neither did his children, who were as 
open-hearted as he. 

He smiled as he remembered the stage coach journeys, in 
the days of his youth, from Baltimore to Philadelphia to see Mar- 
garet Chew. He thought of the journey they took together with 
Belvedere at the end of it ; and the years that followed, when 
the rooms were filled with music of young lives and hearts. 

And what a genial hostess Margaret proved to be in those 
days when "hospitality was part of the religion of wealth. ' 

The guests had come from near and far to Belvedere. Among 
them he remembered Lafayette, a few years before, in his second 
visit to America. That was the year before Margaret died, in 
1824. She had gone ahead of him, the silver-haired Margaret. 
"I'm looking forward to another journey," he whispered softly, 
"to see Margaret Chew." 

Lilla Convey. 

THE McDONOGH INSTITUTE AND FARM SCHOOL. 

Situated on a high knoll commanding a magnificent view of 
the surrounding country are the attractive buildings of the Mc- 
Donogh Institute and Farm School. The farm lies about one- 
half mile west of McDonogh Station on the Western Maryland 
Railroad and near the U])per waters of Gwynns Falls. 

The founder of this school, Joiin McDonogh. was a j)Oor i)oy 
of Baltimore, who went to New ( )rleans, acciimnhitcd a fortune 
in real estate and then planned to devote it to the education of 
poor orphan boys. 1'welve years before his death he made a will, 
dividing his fortune of two milhons e(|uall}' between the two 
cities, lialtimorc and New Orleans, lie also indicated the type 
of education desired for those boys who could avail themselves 
of this opportunity which he ofl'ered. Those who may profit by 
this gift to the city are. first: lialtimore city boys; then those 
of the State; then those outside of the State. The entire exjjense 
of maintenance and education is borne by the school, and great 
care is exercised to find the really worthy. 

Poor orphan boys of good health and character, between the 
ages of twelve and fourteen may become applicants, but only 



no KlvAL STORir^S FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

those who pass creditably a compet'tive exam'nation are appointed. 
Even after the first year's appointment, each boy makes a yearly 
application to the trustees for re-appointment, where he may re- 
main until sixteen. Many ambitious boys secure scholarships 
which afford them the opportun'ty to remain an additional year. 
There are strict rules to be observed by one and all. A boy may 
be dropped at any time if nis influence is detrimental to the wel- 
fare of the school. 

Here is a letter from one of the boys which will lell you 
something of the life at McDonogh : 
My Dear Aunt Nell : 

I am enjoying the work here at McDonogh School 
very much. We have classes in English, Geography, 
History, Arithmetic and Spelling. Some of the boys 
are planning to take the business course here at the 
school and hope to go into business as soon as they 
leave. I am trying very hard to stand well in each 
study, as I want to go to college some day. Professor 
Lyle tells me that I can do it, and I am sure I can make 
my own way through college by doing some work of 
some kind. You know, Aunt Nell, I am not afraid 
to work, and we have to work here, too. Each day we 
have some farm work to do as well as classroom smdy. 
I like the work in the open air. Then there is always 
something interesting going on in the barn yard among 
the chickens, pigs, ducks and calves. T never thought 
I would learn to feed the calves, but I have trained a 
fine kttle bossie to drink. 

You never saw such a program as v-e have to fol- 
low each day. Every hour, yes, every mi)iutc of the day 
is planned from the time we get up in the morning 
until wc go to bed. We have a time to work and a 
time to play, for "all work and no play makes Jack 
a dull boy," so they think here at McD--nogh. There 
is the military drill, which the boys like. You know we 
wear a khaki suit, and I heard some visitors say the 
other day that we made first-rate looking soldiers. But 
that s not all, we have a basket-ball team, a football 
team, a baseball team, and many of the boys play tennis, 
soccer and other games. I am working like a Turk to 
get on the baseball team, but I don't know that I will 
ever make it. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY III 

You know, Aunt Nell, that I can t come home in 
the summer except for a very short time. There will be 
no lessons then, but there will be garden work and farm 
work 'to do. I do not know what will be my summer 
work, but I hope it will be something that I can do well. 
I hope it won't be weeding onions, but that will just be 
my luck. But never mind, weeding can't last forever. 

It is time for drill now, so good-by. 
Your loving nephew, 

Tom. 

A second letter from Tom tells us of the holidays and spe- 
f'al days of the school. 
Dear Aunt Nell . 

Of course you read in the catalog just when and 
how long each holiday time would be, but when it really 
comes to you it seems different somehow. I thought the 
two weeks at Christmas time the nicest vacation I ever 
had, but when Sam Hines asked me to spend the Easter 
Sunday and Monday with him, I had such a good tim° 
that I wished the holidays were longer. Did you knofi- 
that the length of a McDonogh boy's summer holiday 
depends upon his conduct and stand'ng of the year? 
Well, I haven't forgotten this, and I have worked hard 
to earn my holiday with you and Uncle Jim. I never 
was so happy in my life, I think, as when the list of 
those who earned a month's holiday was read and ny 
name was among them. Now I can help Uncle Jim in 
the store, and maybe we can find time to go fishing in 
the Chesapeake. 

Visiting day is a great day here at McDonogh. 
There are two of them, one in October and one in April. 
Don't you rcmcm])er when you came up here with me 
how many homesick boys there were? Well, we get 
over that before April comes. So when you come again 
you will find a smiling crowd, with not a single sad- 
faced Tom among them. 

Did I ever tell you about Walnut Day? It comes 
in October, when the nuts are ripe. The boys travel 
in parties, the younger in comi)any with the older, some- 
times walking for miles through the country looking 
for walnuts. We carry our lunch, and at noon we stop 



112 RKAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORH COUNTY HISTORY 

for camp just as a company of soldiers would do. This 
is a jolly occasion for "nutting days are the best days of 
all the year." As we march along, we give our school 
yell, and from over the hills comes the echoes of "Mc- 
Mc-Don-O-oo ! I tell you the neighbors must think we 
are wild, for we whoop like Indians." 

There is another day which is kept with a good 
deal of ceremony. That is "Founder's Day," which oc- 
curs every year on Friday before commencement. It 
was established the first year of the school, and has 
been continued ever shice. On this day all the pupils 
take the train to Baltimore, where they go to decorate 
the grave of John McDonogh, the founder, who lies 
buried in Greenmount Cemetery. They also decorate 
the graves of Dr. Barnum, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Hunt and 
Mr. Waring in Greenmount; Mr. Allen's in Tagart 
Chapel and Mr. Tagart's and Mrs. Young's in St. 
Thomas' churchyard. 

Will you come to see us march solemnly to Green- 
mount ? If you will wave your handkerchief to your 
McDonogh boy you will see a big broad smile, from 
Your lovinig nephew, 

Tom. 

McDonogh School has been the recipient of several bequests. 
In 1881, Dr. Barnum left his entire fortune for supporting 
classes in manual training in connection with the school. Through 
his beneficence a printing office has been in operation since 1883. 
Now a number of boys are taught to set up type and to do press 
work. In the office a small weekly paper called "The Week," is 
published, all the work on which is done by the boys. They 
also print the catalogues of the school, the yearly report of the 
trustees and whatever other printing is needed. There is also a 
Barnum wood shop, equipped with modern motor-driven wood- 
work'ing machinery. 

In 1892 a Mr. Samuel H. Tagart left the school another 
large bequest. A chapel, known as the Tagart Memorial Chapel, 
has been erected near the main building in his memory. Two 
rooms in the main building of the insf'tute have been fitted up as 
memorial rooms wth suites of Tagart furniture — one a drawing 
room, the other a bedroom. In the chapel a number of marble 
tablets have been put up in memory of those who have aided 



OXCK UPON A TI.MK IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY II3 

ihe school in some way, either by bequests, or as teacher or 
trustee. There is also a memorial window in memory of Mrs. 
Young, the first matron of the school. When the chapel was 
built, at the request of Mrs. Allen, the remains of her husband 
were removed from St. Thomas churchyard, and placed in the 
chapel. A beautiful chime of hells has been placed in the tower 
of the chapel by Mr. (lernian H. Hunt, Jr., in memory of his 
father. 

The school is undenominationaj, but the rector of St. Thomas' 
Episcopal Church is chaplain. Prominent ministers from Balti- 
more often speak to the boys at the Sunday services. 

At the commencement in June, 1916, announcement was 
made that the trustees of McDonogh had arranged to deed to the 
trustees of the Jane Bay fund, one acre of ground where the 
' Jliver Mansion and shops (which were recently burned), had 
stood, upon which the Jane Bay trustees will erect a two hundred 
imd forty thousand dollar building. The boys who attend here 
c re to be known as the Jane Bay boys, and there is to be an in- 
terchange of rights and privileges between them and the Mc- 
Donogh boys. The Jane Bay boys are to be taught by the Mc- 
Oonogh teachers. 

Through the generosity of friends a numl)cr of valuable 
prizes, such as silver cups, money, watch and chain, flags and 
medals are given vearlv to the i)npils for success in different 
studies. 

The McDonogh School was first o])ened in 1873, with twenty- 
one scholars. It will now accommodate one hundred and fifty in 
the buildings which were on the farm at the time of its purchase. 
The permanent buildings of the institut'on were begun in 1881, 
and completed a few years later. Mr. William .\llen, whose re- 
mains rest in Memorial Chai)el, was principal of the school from 
ihe time of its opening in 1X73 until his death at the McDonogh 
in 1889. 

The graduates of the school are much sought after for posi- 
lions of trust, anrl many of them have become highly successful 
in different walk of life. 

Adapted, £. Florence Mallonee. 

TR WT.L n\T THE TURNPn^E. 
1 f I were to ask you what you see on the pike as yon walk 
back and forth to school, you would say first of all, automobiles, 
motorcycles, the aiUo-bns. rnid then, horses, liuggies. carr-'ages. 



114 REAL STORIES FROM BAI^TIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

farm wagons, and sometimes droves of catties, or mules. But 
if I were to ask your grandfather what he saw when he was a 
little boy, I would have a different story. 

In those days there were no automobiles and very few rail- 
roads in our country, and the railroad which we see just outside 
our school yard was not there. Most of the people in this com- 
munity for many miles around were farmers, just as they are 
now, and sold and exchanged their products at the market in 
much the same way. Now the only market for the people of 
Maryland and southern Pennsylvania as well, was Baltimore, and 
the road on which we travel every day was the chief thorough- 
fare. Since the only means of transportation was by horses and 
wagons, this road was paved for the purpose. It connected the 
Pennsylvan-'a town of Hanover with the Maryland town of Bal- 
timore, a distance of about forty-five miles, and was called the 
Baltimore and Hanover turnpike." 

Every day along this pike passed many farm wagons with 
their loads of hay, grains, vegetables, fruits, butter, eggs, poultry, 
and, in fact, every kind of farm product. Quite a picture they 
made, this long line of high-topped white covered wagons, drawn 
by six, four or eight slow-moving horses, as they made their way 
over the hills to dispose of their products. Then, too, there were 
droves of cattle, sheep, mules, horses, and even droves of turkeys 
which had to take the long journey on foot. 

, The people who traveled in those days were also compelled 
to go in slow-moving wagons, or stage coaches, as they were 
called. These stages were built to carry twenty or twenty-five 
passengers just as our auto-bus does at the present time. They, 
however, were drawn by. four or six horses and made two trips 
each week. You may easily imagine how tired these people be- 
came on this long journey, for the horses could not go fast, the 
roads were not always smooth, and there were no soft-cushioned 
seats to relieve the jarring over the stones. 

Of course, this trip of forty-five miles could not be made in 
one day ; it was really a two days' journey, and the little village 
of Fowlesburg marks the half-way point, hence, the end of the 
first day s journey. Houses, called taverns, were prepared to ac- 
commodate, not only the people of the stage coaches, but the 
farmers who drove the wagons or the cattle ; and to provide shel- 
ter for the horses and other an-mals. One of these taverns, the 
"Blueball," stood where Mr. Fringer's house now stands, the 



ONCE urON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY II5 

barn just across the road sheltered the horses, and the cattle, 
sheep or turkeys found a resting place in the closed fields nearby. 

As traffic increased, the house now occupied by Mr. Fowble 
was also used to accommodate the travelers. These people en- 
joyed the evening of rest by telling the adventures of their jour- 
neys, "spinning yarns," and in var'ous other ways, in spite of the 
fact that the beds were not always comfortable, the rooms 
crowded, and some of the men sometimes compelled to sleep 
upon the floor. For, as you can imagine, taverns in those days 
were not furnished to accommodate strangers as are hotels at the 
present time. 

Along the pike at certain d'stances were toll-gates, where 
all travelers had to pay toll in order to help defray the expense 
of repairing the road. One of these toll-gates stood at the house 
Avhere Mr. Fowler now lives, and was kept by a Mr. Fowble, 
who was also the owner of the last named tavern. This Mr. 
Fowble was the father of Grandfather Fowble, whom we all 
know, and who still lives in the house which was once used as a 
tavern. Great-grandfather Fowble built the large stone house 
just below the toll-gate house. 

Finally, as our country progressed and railroads became 
more numerous, the towns of Hanover and Baltimore were con- 
nected by the railroad which we see from our school room win- 
dow. Great-grandfather Fowble gave the land in the commu- 
nity over which the railroad was built, and the railway station 
and postoffice were named for him With this better means of 
travel and transportation, the traffic on the pike rap'dly lessened. 
The taverns were no longer needed, the "Blueball" was torn down 
and Mr. Fringcr's house now stands on its foundation. The toll- 
gate was also removed, but the toll-gate house still stands as a 
reminder of the stage coach days, and the stone house, with its 
thick walls and deep windows, is a lasting monument to the 
man from whom the little village ofFowbleshurg dcr'ved its name. 

Grace L. Ingham. 

OWINGS MILLS AND THE TOLL-GATE 
In the line of the Western Maryland Railroad and one mile 
southwest from Gwynnbrook, and twelve miles from Baltimore, 
is located Owings Mills. The town owes its name to Samuel 
Owings, who established a flour mill here on Gwynn's Falls in 
early days. Later three mills were developed, called the uj^per, 
lower and micUlle mills. The upper was a flour mill ; the lower 



Il6 KKAL STOkirCS I-'ROM liALL'lMUKE COUNTY HISTORY 

mill a plaster mill, the middle mill, a grist mill, which is now 
owned by E. L. Painter. Samuel Owings erected another brick 
grist mrll to meet the needs of the community, but this building 
was torn down in 1848. and the bricks used in building the house 
in which John E. Freese now lives. 

Around these mills as a center the little village straggled 
into existence, and today it counts a population of about three 
hundred. Gwynn's Falls road and the Westminster turnpike, 
earlier known as the Hookstown road, pass through it. 

Not far from the school which has been named Pleasant 
Plill, because of its location upon a hill commanding a good view 
of the landscape, an old landmark has but recently passed out of 
existence, viz. : the old toll-gate. 

THD TOLL-GATU. 

Not so many years ago as we traveled to Reisterstown and 
places beyond, or the people of the country traveled to Baltimore 
on the Reisterstown road, properly named Westminster turnpike, 
and earlier known as the Hookstown road, we stopped at certain 
distances and paid toll at the toll-gate house which stood at the 
side of the road. Indeed, if we did not, a long pole swung before 
our horse and carriage would have prevented our going further 
until the toll exacted was paid. 

The amount of toll was small — a few cents for each person, 
a penny, perhaps, or a nickel, and a nickel for each horse and the 
same for the vehxle, but if one passed that way often, the pay- 
ment of toll amounted to a nice little sum. It seemed larger, too, 
for it all came in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. The toll- 
gate keeper kept it in a strong box until ready to deposit it in the 
bank in the name of the owner of the road. Now, most of our 
roads are owned by the county and state-^public roads as we call 
them, at the service of everybody, and ever}body helps to main- 
tain them by paying a small tax each year for the jirivHege of 
using them. When the old dirt roads were improved and made 
over into the turn])ikes of an earlier day not enough money came 
from the people of the community to pay for their up-keep, so 
some one person or persons took the road and managed 't. You 
can readily see that the turnpike was. in a measure, a private road, 
and any one using it must .make some return for the privilege — - 
hence the toll-gate, with its fixed charge for man and beast. With 
the pass'ng of the toll-gate, and nearly every one has disappeared 
in Baltimore Countv as well as in all the country, vou mav know 



ONCE UPON A TIMH IX OL'R T()W\ AND XTfMNlTY II7 

that roads are being directed by county and state officials and 
paid for from public funds to which your father and mine adds a 
small sum yearly in the form of a tax. 

The first toll-gate at ()\v:ngs Mills was built in 1856, about 
sixty years ago. when your grandfather was just big enough to 
toddle to the front gate and see the teams go by. There have 
been six gate-keepers at this toll-gate, the last one remaining 
eighteen years. In all that time it was his business to keep his 
ears open to hear the rumble of wheels, to touch the lever that 
^wung the pole across the road in front of the approaching 
vehicle, to stand ready to receive the change, to bid the travelers 
good day as they went on their wa}'. 

Th's gate was taken down May 25, 1915. Ten days later a 
barbecue was held in celebration of the event. Speeches were 
made on "Old Roads and New," "The Sign of .the Toll-Gate," 
"Speedways," and "Auto Needs.' Sandwiches and ice-cream 
were served, and a game of baseball was played, witnessed by 
about ten thousand people. Thus the passing of the sign of the 
toll-gate was duly celebrated. 

Adapted, Clara B. Hill. 

THE HISTORY OF MY HOME TOWN— ARLINGTON. 

At the close of the eighteenth century, northwest Baltimore, 
beyond the present location of Dru'd Hill Park, was a series of 
out-lying farms and wooded estates, among the trees of which 
occasional mansions, surrounded by cabins, stables and kennels, 
bespoke the life and pastimes of the country gentry who rode 
behind the hounds or rivalled each other for the honor of crown- 
ing the fair queen of love and beauty at some tournament or fair. 

The old Reisterstown turnpike, which straggled up Stony 
Hill and on through Pikesville to Reisterstown, was a lonely and 
uninteresting thoroughfare on which long lines of white-hooded 
country wagons weekly threaded their way to Baltimore markets 
from Manchester and other distant ])laces. Each day a lumber- 
ing stage coach jolted over the rough road en route from Balti- 
more to Reisterstown. Would-be passengers met the coach at 
the old "Hand House," on Paca street, or they could book pass- 
age where the Commonwealth Bank now stands, on Howard 
street, when the stage would call for and deliver them at any 
point along the route to Re'stcrstown. 

By the roadside, on the brow of Stony Hill, an enterprising 
Pennsylvanian opened a tavern for man and beast. "The Three 



lib REAL STORIES FROM BAi/TIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Mile House" proved a convenient place for countrymen to put 
up for the night as it insured an early morning start for the 
d:stant farm or when coming into the. markets. 

Ere long "The Hammet House" opened its doors directly 
opposite the wayside tavern, and here the county squires and 
huntsmen were lavishly entertained in tap-room and dining-hall of 
th's aristocratic hostelry. Many rollicking tales are told of this 
rendezvous for Baltimore County sports who here regaled them- 
selves when returning from the tournament or chase. 

About 1785 John Hook, of Manchester:, decided to no longer 
drive his country van o'er the weary miles from Pennsylvania to 
Baltimore, so he, with his wife, the young daughter of Daniel 
Boone, settled in a log house on the Reisterstown road near "the 
bridge" or the present neighborhood of Wylie avenue. Life 
proved very lonely here for these pioneer settlers, but John was 
saving money, so they endured much. Other members of the 
Hook family and their friends built for themselves cabins or farm 
houses in the neighborhood, until in i8(K) fifty or more families 
were scattered between Pikesville, Baltimore, Pimlico road and 
Liberty pike. This little settlement became known as "Hooks- 
town," and the Reisterstown turnpike, the "Hookstown road." 

Among others came Father Henry Smith, a retired circuit 
rider of the Methodist Church, who built for himself a substan- 
t'al home on Hookstown road near the five mile stone, and named 
it Pilgrims Rest. His books, which have become classics in 
Methodist circles, were written here. He, together wth others 
of the Hooks settlement, founded a Methodist Society about 1811. 
Prayer-meetings were held in a log church near Pilgrims' Rest, 
on Church Lane. In 1822 a stone chapel replaced the log meet- 
ing house. Here a gallery in the rear was reserved for the negro 
slaves, who always worshipped with their masters. The singing 
as heretofore was without music, and one hymn book served for 
four or five members. This meeting house was named Mc- 
Kendree Chapel for a loved bishop of that day. The village 
graveyard gradually grew around the chapel and st'll endures, an 
old landmark, now myrtle and ivy-grown, where many moss-cov- 
ered tombstones mark the last resting place of Hookstown's early 
settlers. For many years the chapel's deep-toncci bell called the 
villagers to prayer, but in 1894, the old building was razed to the 
ground and McKendree Church, as it stands today, was erected 
beside the parsonage near Pilgrims' Rest. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I I9 

Each clay the stage coach dropped the village mail at the 
postoffice and store kept by Joseph Feelemyer and here, too, 
chance visitors alighted to meet the'.r waiting friends. The old 
postoffice St'll stands in its modern dress on the turnpike near 
Church Lane, and is today occupied by members of the Feele- 
myer family. 

For many years the village school was a log house on Church 
Lane near McKendree Chapel, and the master "boarded 'round'' 
and made h'.mself generally useful in neighborhood affairs. Pil- 
grims' Rest was a rare retreat for such men as the "master ' or 
traveling preachers. When Dr. Hill, with his trunk, descended 
from the stage coach into Hookstown it was at Pilgrims' Rest 
that he found a welcome accorded him until he became estab- 
lished. In 1895 '^ modern district school was erected on the turn- 
pike above Church Lane. r 

THE NAMING OF MY HOME TOWN. 

As the wheels of tme jogged on many changes came to the 
little village of Hookstown on the crest of Stony Hill. For 
years it had reposed quietly within its boundaries with nothing 
more enkvening than the advent of the horse-cars to Pikesville 
and the laying of the Western Maryland Railroad tracks to West- 
minsccr. But one day, in 1870, a racing company purchased a 
track of land on the old Pimlico road, from Roger's avenue be- 
yond Hayward Lane and established its tracks. They negotiated 
with the ra'lroad to place a platform known as Pimlico Landing, 
at Church Lane, from which point a board walk was laid on Hay- 
ward avenue to the club house. But, alas, Hookstown now 
threatened to be submerged into Pimlico, at which the good old 
iMethodist community rebelled. Indignat'on meetings were called 
in the log school house on Church Lane, and one citizen, Mr. 
Oak ford, oft'ered a site on Garrison avenue, about one-half mile 
below Pimlico platform to the railroad, on which to build a station 
to be named for the town. To this the railroad agreed, but the 
citizens unanimously protested that Hookstown was no longer a 
ruitable name, as the Hooks had either died or removed else- 
where ; so another meeting was called, each citizen being advised 
to come prepared to offer a new name for the old settlement. 

The evening came, the meeting was called, and the secre- 
tary placed the various names upon the blackboard. Belvieu, Bel- 
videre, Ashburton, Auburndale and others were suggested and 
voted upon. The interest was tense as the voting was close, and 



I20 REAL STORir.S FROM liALII .MORh COl'NTV HISTORY 

all seemed uncertain what name to select, when an aggressive 
little Jew, well known and popular in the village, arose to his feet 
nnd shouted. "I vote that wc name him. 'Arlington' for the home 
of the great George Washington !" The absurdity of his gross 
ignorance of h'story made a hit. and the place was unanimously 
named Arlington. The name was in due time placed above the 
door of the little railroad station, and Arlington took its place 
c'mong the railroad towns of Maryland. 

LATER DAY TRANSPORTATION. 

The little settlement of Hookstown jogged on for many years 
aroused only by the advent of the stage coach, but one day, in 
1870. a horse car plodded up Stony Hill and on to Pikesville, car- 
rying passengers from Cumberland street and the Hookstown 
road on to Pikesville for the small sum of 25 cents. For 15 cents 
they were dropped at Rogers avenue in Hookstown, so the stage 
coach soon felt the competition, for people crowded around the 
egg-stove in the Pikesville car and talked of the progress of time 
as they jolted over the miles of lonely country roads. For sev- 
eral years a number of representative citizens of Hookstown and 
Pikesville, headed by Patrick Walker, had been negotiating with 
land-owners for the right of way, and had at last succeeded in 
laying a single track from Baltimore to Pikesville. 

To many who traveled on the near car-line the trip to the 
city was a long talked-of event, and Maying parties found their 
way from the city to Seven Mile Lane in search of the sweet 
blossoms that skirted highways and hedges. Picnicers, together 
with those on business bent, made the car-line a very popular 
thoroughfare out of the city. About this time the steam railroad 
laid its tracks through the village en route to \\^estern Maryland, 
but made its first stop out of the city at Pikesville. 

Rut other things were destined to awaken the sleepy town ; 
a racing company had esablished its tracks on the Pimlico road, 
between Rogers and Hay ward avenues, and they negotiated with 
ihe railroad to place a platform at Church Lane, near Pilgrims' 
Rest, from which point they laid a boardwalk out Hayward 
avenue to their tracks. A railroad station was erected on Gar- 
rison avenue in 1872, and many forsook the horse cars to steam 
quickly to adjacent towns and distant places. The Pimlico com- 
pany now laid a switch to connect w'th the railroad near Church 
Lane, but when the electric cars were established, about 1802, it 
was only used to convey freight to the track. For a stated sum 



once; upo\ a time in our town and vicinitv 121 

neighboring farmers were permitted to side-track fertilizers and 
other chattels for private use. 

The electric railway used the old horse car route to Pikes- 
ville, along which a modern thoroughfare, known as Park He'ghts 
avenue, has been developed. A branch railway to West Arling- 
ton has been connected with the main road at Belvidere avenue 
for the convenience of cross-country residents. 

A village; tragedy. 
Great was the excitement in Balt'more and old Hookstown 
when the soldiers were expected to pass this way during the 
Civil War. Trenches and other barricades were thrown up to 
prevent them getting into the city, and so fearful were they of 
spies and foul play that each person passing through these en- 
trenchments must show a pass from the provost ere he could go 
on his way unmolested. On the Hookstown road, just above the 
village postoffice, a company of Union soldiers were encamped on 
the Mepham property, and their breastworks stretched from side 
to side of the old turnpike. All along the line to the next in- 
trenchment below the village at Stony Hill feeling was tense, sorne 
for, and some against the Union. Young Tom Richardson and 
his brother were among the first to volunteer in the Southern 
army and were to see active service at Antietam. Old Mother 
Richardson was anxious that they should not want for food and 
clothing, so nothing would do but Father Richardson should 
mount his fastest horse and carry these home comforts to the 
absent boys. Bright was the morning when he halted in front 
of Joseph Feelemver's postoffice to receive messag^es of good cheer 
and well wishes for the absent heroes. Many eyes followed the 
handsome old patr'ot as he gallo])ed off for the long r'de to Fred- 
erick and Antietam. All went well until he neared his journey's 
end. He could almost hear the cheery greeting of his sold er 
boys, when the order, "flalt!" fell like a knell upon his ears. 
"Dismount !'' came the next command, and in a twinkling be wa ■- 
surrounded and stripped of all that had been so carefully packed 
for the absent lads. In vain Ik- insisted he was no '^•' ■ '^•■" ip'v' 
a weary traveler to a distant town. In vain he swore allegiance 
to their cause ; he was tried and tonvcted as a sjiv to hang by 
the neck from a wayside tree until he was dead. And that was 
not all. when anxious friends heard of Irs tragic death, they came 
to carry back all that remained of the loving father, husband, 
l;rother and friend, who had so lately ridden gayly out of Hooks- 



122 RRAL STORIES TKOM BALTIMCJRH COUNTY HISTORY 

town on his errand of love. But, no, the orders were, "He must 
hang until the crows have picked his bones." Again and yet 
again his brother pleaded that the body might be decently buried 
in the old burying-ground at Hookstown, but to no avail. At 
last the broken hearted brother returned to his saddened home. 
As he rode alone over the dusty highway and thought of the in- 
justice of his murdered brother's fate, his tender, loving, sociable 
and pleasure-lov'ng nature was changed and a rentless desire for 
revenge possessed him. He returned to his native vllage a hard- 
ened man who lived for many years a hermit on his estate on 
Rogers avenue, feared by all new comers to the town, but pitied 
and esteemed for old times sake by the older inhabitants who 
remembered the sad tragedy that had wrecked the happiness of 
the only brother of the suspected spy. 



Olivia O. shorn. 



TOWSON. 



THE JOURNEY. 

A sailing vessel was plowing its weary way across the At- 
lantic Ocean. Weeks before it had left an English port bound 
for America, and now the tired, homesick faces of the passengers 
brightened as they saw the shores of the new country stretching 
far to the northward and to the southward. Among those eager 
to land were two sturdy German fellows, one accompanied by 
h's young English wife. They thought to make their fortunes in 
this fair land, so wended their way by stage coach and horseback 
into southern Pennsylvania. 

Not satisfied with their home there they traveled south by 
wagon into Maryland. The wooded hills, the green valleys, the 
life-giving streams all beckoned to the strangers to come and 
stay ; and this they did. 

We can picture to ourselves the journey through the wilder- 
ness, can we not? A rude wagon, and no roads, such as we 
have today. The way was rough, indeed. Often trees had to be 
cut down to make a way for the wagon through the woods. All 
the time they were on the watch for a pleasant spot in which to 
start the new home. Each day thev hoi)ed to find it. Each night 
they camped near a stream. They cooked and ate their meals 
around a great log fire. All night the howling of the wolves could 
be heard, but the bright light from the camp fire kept them at a 
safe distance. As they rode along plenty of deer, squirrels and 



ONCE UPON A TIMK IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I23 

turkeys were seen, which gave promise of plenty of game for 
later hunting days. At last they came upon a spot, fairer than 
any they had yet seen. They said, "This is where we will build 
our new home.'' It had taken them many days to make the 
journey. You could go as far as they had come in two hours 
today. 

About seven miles north of Baltimore Town on a ridge over- 
looking three broad valleys, now called Green Spring. Long 
Green and Dulaney's, they stopped for the night. In the morn- 
ing, instead of moving on as they had been doing for weeks, they 
decided to remain. Trees were cut down and hewn into logs. 
Soon the first little house found itself upon the ridge. This first 
house stood upon the site now occupied by the Bosley's Hotel. 
In this home lived Ezekiel Towson and his wife Catherine. 
Thomas, Ezekiel's brother, made his home with them. 

Other men came. The second house was built, then another, 
and another, and another, until the settlement deserved the name 
of village. It will not surprise you to hear that the settlers one 
and all agreed that the name of the village should be Towson- 
town, in honor of the two who had built the first little house on 
the ridge. 

A great family of jolly boys and girls made the Towson 
homestead merry, for there were twelve children in all. You 
will like to hear about Nathan, one of these youngsters, who 
loved to go hunting, who feared no danger, who showed bravery 
in defending the weak, and was ever generous and open-hearted. 

IN -THE NEW HOME. 

In the early days of the settlement what did the people do? 
I am sure that Ezekiel and Thomas spent a good deal of time in 
hunting game, which abounded in plenty. Squirrels, rabbits, wild 
turkeys, deer and even bears. An old record entered in 1771 
showed that Samuel Worthington, a justice of the Levy Court, 
paid Thomas Towson the bounty on one hundred and thirteen 
squirrel skins. This is proof positive that he was a good hunter. 

It is likely that they also cleared the land and raised corn 
and vegetables. The cornfield and "truck patch" or garden were 
full of stumps and not at all easy to plow, but the soil though 
full of roots was rich and the products repaid their efforts. 

Just as soon as the boys and girls were large enough to 
help there was work for each and every one. In the spring the 
corn had to be planted by hand and covered with a hoe. As 



124 KKAL STORIES FROM CAI/riMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

soon as the corn came up the children hecame watchers of the 
cornfields to keep away the squirrels and crows. They seemed 
to know that a nice kernel of corn lay at the root of the little 
green sprout. And later in the season, when the corn had filled 
the ear, the crows sought the golden grains. The children made 
as much noise as possible to scare the little thieves way. While 
they did not relish this tiresome task, they thought of the sweet 
roasting ears and did not refuse. By and by the scare-crow made 
his appearance in the fields. You can see where he gets his 
name — "Scare Crow.' 

Ezekiel and Thomas were busy in the out-of-door life, while 
Catherine looked after the growing household. If one of the 
girls could speak of those times this is what she would say : 

"Our cabin was small and not any too comfortable. We had 
one beautiful thing, and that was the open fire. The fireplace 
was so large that great logs were burned in it. It was so large 
that two of us, one at either end could sit inside on the end log 
and watch the flames as they swept up the chimney. Here we 
sat with father and mother and listened to stories as the rosy 
light played upon the rude walls. 

Of course all our food was cocked by this open fire. Often 
mother would scrape down some hot coals and place them on the 
lid and under the long handled skillet to bake the cornmeal cakes, 
or roll the potatoes in the ashes where they would bake to a turn. 
Brick ovens, built in the wall, followed as a matter of course. 
There was a big crane upon which kettles were swung. We .il- 
w^ays had plenty to eat and food never tasted so good as that 
cooked by the open fire. The food was simple, but wholesome, 
consisting of game, cornbread, hominy, fruit and vegetables. 

I do not recall where the corn was groand. but I am sure 
it was taken to the mill on horseback. The hominy was made 
at home, and it is possible that the corn was pounded or crusned 
by some simple home device such as many early settlers used. 

We were always glad to have visiti.rs, for the\ brought the 
news from neighboring commun'ties and made the days seem 
shorter. Strangers often stopped with us and we made them 
welcome 

When newcomers came into the neighborhood they w^ere 
welcomed by all of us. Often every one helped them to build 
their houses and shared with them the best that oiu" larders af- 
forded. Adapted, Lilla Conrey.. 



ONCE UPON A TIl\nv IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITV I25 

NAMING THE VILEACE. 

"Get ready for the meeting tonight, Ezekiel. Put on thy 
new shirt," said Catherine. 

"Yes, that I must, my dear. All our neighbors will be here 
shortly," answered her husband. 

In less than an hour they began to come into the little log 
house, made larger since its beginning, for there had been four 
rooms added, two below and two other bedrooms above. 

"How are thee, neighbor Gray?" said Ezekiel lo one of the 
farmers. 

"Right well, Ezekiel; how is the wife, and how are the five 
little ones?" 

"Well and rosy; this air on the ridge is good for them," said 
Ezekiel, looking proud. 

"How are thee? How are thee?'' was repeated again and 
again, as the front room became crowded, for now there were 
twenty or more houses near the Towson house, and the men had 
come out tonight to decide on a name for the little village. The 
meeting was called to order by Farmer Gray, the oldest man in 
the neighborhood. 

"Neighbors, ten years ago, two brave men and a brave wo- 
man came up over these hills in a pioneer wagon. They stayed, 
and with brave hearts and busy hands started this settlement. 
Now there are twenty houses instead of one, and we must have 
a name. What shall it be?" 

Then a tall, lanky farmer arose, and in a drawling voice, 
said, "What shall it be but Towsontown? It would be a shame 
to give it any other name." 

They voted, and every man said, "Let it be Towsontown.*' 
And so it was named. 

OLD SETTLERS. 

"Tbere's one thing I'd like to know," said Dorothy, and 
grandma, smiling, asked what that might be. 

"What became of Thomas and Ezekiel Towson? Where 
did they die, I wonder. I'd like to jmt some of my t)ink roses 
on their graves. ' 

"Well, honey, nobody seems to know when they died, but 
I can tell you who bought the old inn and the land from the 
Towsons. It was Solomon Schmuck, from Baltimore Town. 
He didn't keep it long, but sold it to his brother-in-law, George 
Shealy, from Baltimore Town. Then George Shcaly moved his 



126 REAL STORlKb FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

family into the old hop-roofcd house the Towsons had huilt. 

"Why, we live on Shcaly avenue,'' said Dorothy. 

"Yes, and in the little graveyard across the road, you will 
find Solomon Schmuck's grave and George Shealy's." 

"Oh, grandma, come, let's get some of my pink roses, and go 
over there, ' begged Dorothy. 

"All right, deary, as soon as I finish this seam," said grand- 
ma. 

So some of Dorothy's beautiful roses were laid on the graves 
of the two old settlers. 

Lilla Conrcy. 
TOWSON'S TAVERN. 

What is your father's trade or occupation ? As we make 
the list it reminds us of the old rhyme, "Doctor, lawyer, merchant, 
chief," for not one has been omitted. In the early days we find 
that all pioneers first of all engaged in hunting and fishing, then 
gardening and farming, and later added the other trades and oc- 
cupations. We need not forget that on the large manors and es- 
tates all the wants of the household were supplied first hand. 
Those were the days when they spvm, wove and made garments, 
tanned the leather and made the shoes they wore. Already they 
were producing more than they needed in the home and Ezekiel 
Towson found a market for his produce in Baltimore Town, 
just as his neighbors did. Ofif to the Baltimore markets rattled 
the heavy wagons of those days, with fruits and vegetables, and 
many of them passed through Towsontown on tlieir way to the 
growing town on the Patapsco. 

As I have said, the Towsons were genial and friendly folk 
and many were the neighbors who stopped to rest at their home. 
One day an idea popped into his head, "Why not an inn, a tav- 
ern?' Here was his large family with many wants and needing 
more money to supply those needs. What could be better than 
an inn. 

At once he made preparations to meet the needs of the trav- 
elers along this route. A large stable was built in the great yard 
in which to house the oxen and horses ; an addition was built to 
his house, for he must have room for both man and beast. So 
Towson's Tavern came into existence. The large yard of the 
inn was crowded every night during the busy season with wagons 
and the house was filled with their owners, a jolly company, who 
sat around and told tales to regale their spirits as they rested in 
this pleasant place. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 12/ 

Naturally Ezekiel Towson would be interested in the roads 
leading to his tavern. \Ve find mention of his name in connec- 
tion with a road tax of £7 allowed a man named Welsh in the 
year 1796 for keeping the road in repair from Ezekiel Towson's 
tavern to Walter Dulaney's ford on the falls of the Gunpowder, 
the road known as the Towson and Dulaney turnpike. 

In 1799 the York turnpike was being laid out, and Ezekiel 
Towson was very much dissatisfied with the line proposed, be- 
cause it did not pass the door of his hospitable inn. A turnpike 
laid out from York all the way to Baltimore Town and not pass 
his door was enough cause for a grievance. So he petitioned the 
General Assembly to change its route in his favor. The law- 
making body decided to grant his request, believing it a just one, 
and since he was willing to give up to the public that part of the 
land over which it would pass. It is interesting to read the en- 
actment : "The York turnpike road when altered shall pass by or 
near the buildings of the said Ezekiel Towson ; that is to say, be- 
ginning for the said alterations at the place where the said turn- 
pike intersects the orchards of Johns Hopkins, and running thence 
with a straight line until it intersects the old York road at or 
near Ezekiel Towson's tavern, — " So the York road, as well 
as Dulaney's Valley road, passed the old inn. Two other roads 
of later date enter the town, the Hillen road and Charles Street 
avenue. 

A HAPPY EVENING. 

In the center of the table was a large brass candle-stick in 
which a candle burned and sputtered. Around the table sat some 
rosy-cheeked boys and girls studying their lessons for the mor- 
row. There were nine of the twelve Towson children ; the young- 
est three had been put to bed. 

'"Xathan. how does thee do this sum?' asked a bright-eyed 
jolly looking little chaj). 

"Come, and I'll show thee," answered the brother, "though 
if thcc'd thmk, thee could do it alone." 

"No, I couldn't, Nathan; its terrible, and I've tried and 
tried," said the little fellow. 

Finally the lessons were finished, and they all sat around 
the big fireplace, roasting apples and telling yarns. Little Tom's 
face glowed in the light from the big log, as he held his apple on 
the end of a pointed stick, close to the flame. 



128 RtAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"Mine's cooked," said Mary, "I can tell because it's soft, and 
it smells so good I can hardly wait til it gets cool enough. ' 

"Tomorrow night we will pop some corn, may we, mother?' 
asked Bernard, who, after burning his tongue, had succeeded in 
getting his mouth full of the juicy dainty. 

"Yes, if thee wants to," answered the mother, who was tak- 
ing out the warming pan from under the logs. "But hurry now, 
and get ready to go upstairs, for I will soon be warming the 
beds." 

A half hour later, a soft little voice in the darkness upstairs 
said, "Nathan!' "Hush," said Nathan in a whisper, "thee'll wake 
the others. What does thee want?" 

"Will thee show me how to do my sum tomorrow night, 
and will thee remember the pop-corn?" said Tom half asleep. 

"Perhaps, if thee goes to sleep right away," answered 
Nathan, and then all was still in the Towson house. 

Lilla Convey. 

NATHAN TOWSON. 

You will like to hear about Nathan Towson, now grown to 
manhood, for it is General Nathan Towson who sheds lustre upon 
the name. You remember that he was one of twelve who made 
merry in the small house on the ridge. He was born in January, 
1784, and at the time of which I write he was a youth of nine- 
teen. Somewhat of a rover, he had gone South and was in 
Louisiana when the United States purchased this large tract of 
land from France. Many French inhabitants felt that they still 
belonged to France and were not at all sure that they wanted 
to belong to the United States. So volunteer companies were 
formed to enforce any American claim should any difficulty arise. 
Nathan Towson joined one of these and was soon promoted to 
the command of the company. He returned to Baltimore County 
in 1805, and turned farmer. Another account says he returned, 
not to anything exciting but to settle down to his trade of car- 
pentering and pump-making. I think perhaps he engaged in all 
three for a man was apt to be "Jack of all trades' in those days. 

Five years later, or in 1810, war was declared between Eng- 
land and America, and Nathan was filled with patriotism and 
wished to fight for his country. He gathered together a band of 
young men, eager like himself to fight for their country, and 
evening after evening he drilled them on a lot near his father's 



ONCK UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 120 

house. On this lot stood a well-stocked powder magazine be- 
longing to the United States Government. Epsom Chapel now 
marks the spot. 

But Nathan must get his connnission from the law-makin.g 
body before he could be a real captain. Two young men of in- 
fluence undertook to get it for him. Colonel Randall brought 
him the good news that he had been made captain of artillery. 
This "is the story they tell : 

The young soldier lad was busy laying a barn floor when a 
messenger bearing the good news came into the village. 

"Where is Nathan Towson?" he asked. "Laying a floor in 
my barn," said the owner." "Well, I ve good news for him. 
His commission has been granted. Come see how he takes it 
when I tell him the news." 

So they went together to the barn. Nathan nodded pleas- 
antly, but kept on working. He was just in the act of driving 
a spike through a rough unhewn board when Colonel Randall an- 
nounced, "Towson, I have your commission." His form shook 
with i)leasure at hearing" the news, but he never lifted his head 
until the spike had been driven home, when, casting his hammer 
on one side, Towson stood erect, and throwing back his head, 
said proudly : "That is the last spike Nathan Towson will drive 
until he sends one into the touch-hole of the enemy s cannon." 

It did not take him long to gather his company together, and 
they were off the very next day, sailing from IJaltimore to Elkton, 
then marching to Philadelphia, where they joined the Second 
Regiment of Artillery, under the command of General W^infield 
Scott, who was stationed upon Lake Erie. The following inci- 
dent is related of him: 

"While Towson was stationed at Buffalo on Lake Erie, a 
sort of truce was declared so that officers of both armies might 
indulge in social festivities. On one occasion a British officer in- 
sulted one of the ladies i)resent, for which offense Towson 
promptly knocked him down. A duel was the result, in wh'ch 
Captain Towson had a finger shot oft', while his opponent was 
laid low with a more serious injury." — The Union. 

When the War of i(Sr2 closed we find our young hero a lieu- 
tenant colonel for his brave and faithful service. General Scott 
gave him and liis company warm words of praise. This was 
not the onlv war in which he served his country. Trouble arose 
with Mexico and the United States found it necessary to settle 



130 REAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMORlC COUNTY HISTORY 

the difficulty in this way. He was now made major general. 
We should be proud of General Nathan Towson, who rendered 
good service to his county and country. When the war was over 
he lived in Washington, but he never forgot his childhood home, 
often coming over to visit old landmarks and old friends of his 
youth. 

Among other places, imdoubtedly he stopped at Schmuck's 
Tavern, used as a recruiting station during the war of 1812. 
This building was built and owned by his father, and stood the 
test of time until recently, being torn down as late as 191 5. 

Lilla Convey. 

TOWSON, THE COUNTY SEAT. 

Towson was selected as the county seat of Baltimore County 
in February 1854, just one hundred years after the French and 
Indian war began, by the voters of Baltimore County. 

Every one in Towson was very happy that this honor had 
come to their town, and a celebration was held with much en- 
thusiasm. An old frame building belonging to the late Henry 
H. Chew, on the top of Perrigo's Hill, was set on fire to honor 
the occasion, and the surrounding country was ablaze with other 
bonfires, showing that the citizens of the towns in the vicinity re- 
joiced in the good fortune of the chosen town. 

Of course, a courthouse is necessary in the county seat, and 
the corner stone of the new Baltimore County Court House was 
laid October 19, 1854. On May 18. 1857, it was completed and 
ready for the county officials, and the county court. 

The structure is of gray stone, quarried in Lime Kiln bot- 
tom, with trimmings from Beaver Dam quarries, so you see it is 
a home product and we should be prouder of it than ever. It is 
surmounted with a cupola and has an imposing colonial portico 
on its facade. In 1910 additions were made to the main build- 
ing, which enhanced its attractiveness, being now one of the 
finest types of colonial architecture found in the county. Soon 
after the new court house was completed a landscape artist was 
employed to cut down trees, to add shrubbery, to layout walks, 
and to improve the beauty and charm of the court house square. 
When you visit there one does not know which to admire the 
more, the fine old building, or the grounds which surround it. 
Each adds to the charm of the other, making the "seat of gov- 
ernment" beautiful and attractive. . Lilla Conrey. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I3I 

THE FAMOUS OLD STAGE. 

The old stage is a thing long to be remembered. All the 
attaches of the court house remember the days when court was 
late because the stage was late; when snowdrifts in the yard 
blocked the stage and therefore the administering of justice. 
They recall the hundred of up-country couples who came down 
to Towson to be married, and they smile when they think of the 
political destinies of the county that were settled on the ride from 
I,utherville to Towson. 

The stage line started about 1875, between Rider's Postoffice 
and Towson. The first owner and driver was William Wesley, 
who gave up the operation of the line several years after he had 
established it. The first stage was a large substantial vehicle, 
built like a phaeton, and was the product of an old country wagon 
shop. 

In those days there was no car line between Towson and 
Baltimore, and the folks living in the neighborhood of LuthervilJe 
and down in the tidewater part of the county had to come out on 
the Northern Central to Sherwood, where the stage picked them 
up. Later, when the horsecar was built, a good many of them, 
preferred to come out on the steam road to save time, for it took 
a long time to make the journey to Towson by horsecar. 

When Mr. Wesley gave up the stage it was taken over by 
William P. Cole, who was then in the livery business. After a 
few years' operation of the line, he was succeeded by Benjamin 
F. Bayne, who in turn sold out to a man named Rudiger. 

With the opening of the electric line between Timonium and 
Towson the stage breathed its last. It competed with the car 
during the Timonium Fair, but when the fair ended the days of 
the stage ended, and Julius Rudiger, Jr., its owner, flicked his 
whip over the horses backs for the last time. — Baltimore Sun. 

ROADS — OLD AND NEW. 

We have already heard how the York turnpike and Dulany's 
turnpike were of such advantage to the early settlers. Now 
roads wear out and grow old as well as other things, so you will 
not be surprised to learn that the citizens of Towson and Govans, 
her neighbor, desired to have the York road rebuilt by the State 
Roads Commission. Once upon a time when the Conestoga 
wagons came down from Pennsylvania to Baltimore, the road 
was the usual dirt road, often muddy in the rainy season, and 
dusty in the dry. It was kept up by a system of toll, l)cing under 



132 KKAL STORIRS FROM BAiyi'IMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

private enterprise. Toll-gates were established at various points 
along the way. Until recently, not longer ago than ten years, a 
toll-gate house and toll-gate was operated in Govans. Five Mile 
House, Seventeen Mile House were stopping places on the York 
pike in the old days. 

Up and down this road ran the omnibuses from Baltimore to 
Towson. A mail route was established in 1854, when the town 
became the county seat. The mail was carried in omnibuses 
leaving Baltimore in the morning and returning in the evening, 
every day except Sunday. In ICS63 the York Road (horse) Rail- 
way was opened, and better mail service was the result. Today, 
with the electric line passing to and fro and a special mail car, 
three deliveries a day are made in Towson. 

Since the road has been rebuilt of concrete as far as Towson 
it has become the thoroughfare for automobiles in great numbers. 
A jitney line, operating as the Towson and Cedarcroft Bus Line, 
makes several trips daily. 

Perhaps the oldest road is the joppa road, which runs 
through the town from east to west. This road was laid out, it 
is said, when Joppa was the county seat, and gave promise of 
being the great city of Maryland. In looking at the map of the 
county we are led to believe that all the old roads led to Joppa, 
as they did — and each one claimed the name of Joppa, so we 
have Joppa here and Joppa there. Joppa road is now a macadam 
road and leads to the beautiful Green Spring Valley on the west, 
r>aynesville, Carney, Perry Hall on the east. 

C)ne of the most interesting roads is the Old Court road, 
which was so named because it was the road leading to the county 
court. 

The Hillen road is an important thoroughfare. It is a popu- 
lar automobile route from Baltimore to Philadelphia, and hun- 
dreds of cars pass every day. Wouldn't our grandfathers and 
grandmothers of an earlier day hold up their hands in dismay at 
the swiftness of the horseless carriages of this day and time? 

Dulany's Valley turnpike is still a toll road, one of the few 
remaining in Maryland. It is a relic of "ye olden time," which 
will soon disappear, I have no doubt. 

Two electric lines now lead to Towson, one on York road 
from Baltimore city and one connecting Cockeysville and Towson. 
Two electric lines afford convenient transit, one plying between 
Baltimore and Towson, and the other between Towson and 



ONCE UPON A TIMIJ IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 1 33 

Timonium. A steam railroad gives the village the air of a town, 
though suburbanites find other ways more advantageous. 

FIRST THINGS. 

Towson has had a day of first things. Let us recount them. 

Some men bought fifty acres on the west side of the village 
and laid it off into building lots, making wide avenues and plant- 
ing shade trees. A land owner on the east side laid off a large 
part of his land into avenues and building lots. 

The court house and jail were finished soon after this, 18^4- 

The first newspaper published in the town was the Baltimore 
County Advocate, edited by a Mr. Church. 

The first postoffice was in Towson Hotel, and the mail was 
carried on horseback. An omnibus line was afterward estab- 
lished, the omnibuses leaving Baltimore office in the morning and 
returning in the afternoon, every day, except Sunday. 

The first public schoolhouse was a building on Delaware 
avenue, back of the old Ady Hotel. The first teacher was a 
Mr. Johnson ; the second, a Mr. Flayhart. 

The first church was built on the foundation of that old 
powder magazine on the Epsom lot. near which Nathan Towson 
had drilled his men. 

In those days brick ovens and wood stoves were used for 
heating and cooking, the children studied by candle light, the 
streets were at first unlighted, water was brought from the 
spring, the people went to the city on omnibuses. 

But now we can say : 

From the old horse cars to steam cars and electrics. 

From the omnibus mail route to the carrier system. 

From kerosene lights to gas and electricity. 

From brick oven to gas stove. 

From the old oaken bucket to the hot and cold water spigots. 

Towson has made these strides with the rest of the world. 

TOW.SON TODAY. 

Towson interests us because it is the county seat. We ex- 
pect to see a court house and a jail, as these distinguish it from 
other small towns, but there are other buildings worthy of your 
notice. The Masonic Hall on Washington avenue, the High 
School Building and Trinity Church proj^erty on Alleghany ave- 
nue, the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception on Pros- 
pect Hill, Tow.son National Bank, the Odd Fellows' Hall and the 



134 RIvAL STORIES FROM BAJ/IIMORK COUNTY HISTORY 

postoffice. All of these buildings are modern, but in spite of 
their newness the town still wears an air of antiquity. 

The residents are merchants, florists, dairymen, coal and 
lumber dealers, blacksmiths, carpenters, plumbers, bakers, print- 
ers, lawyers, physicians, ministers and county officials. 

The surrounding country is hilly and rolling, the slope grow- 
ing more gentle as you travel southward. From Prospect Hill 
In the north of Towson, you have a fine view of three valleys — 
Green Spring to the northwest, Dulany's to the north and Long 
Green to the northeast. The general slope is from northeast to 
southwest. 

The Gunpowder River, rising near the Pennsylvania line, 
flows southeast and empties into Chesapeake Bay. The land is 
drained further by three small streams rising in or near Towson 
— one flowing northeast and emptying into the Gunpowder four 
miles from the town ; another, Towson Run, flowing southwest 
into Lake Roland; and Herring Run, flowing southeast into Back 
River. 

The nearest lake is Lake Roland, two miles west of the town. 
The lake is about one and a half miles long and its greatest 
width is about a half mile. 

The soil consists of a kind of loamy clay and mica. The 
farms yield fine crops of wheat, rye, barley and buckwheat ; the 
gardens, great quantities of white potatoes, corn, beans, cymlings, 
tomatoes, cabbage, celery and pumpkins ; the orchards bushels of 
apples, pears, peaches, cherries, damsons, quinces, strawberries, 
raspberries, gooseberries and currant ; while the poultry yard and 
dairy play a fair part in the industrial interests. 

Many of the people of the surrounding country engage in 
farming, gardening, carpentry, stone-masonry, bricklaying, dairy- 
ing, poultry raising and stock farming. 

Other beautiful towns dot the country around; some of 
them are Ruxton, Sherwood, Lutherville and Govanstown. 

Lilla Conrev. 
THE ROAD TO MARKET. 

It was five o'clock on a summers morning? The sun was 
already high in the sky looking out over the rich brown fields and 
tl.e green woodlands. The birds were singing cheerily in the 
trees. The chickens, ducks and turkeys were busily awake in 
the farmyard, and the great market truck piled with fruits and 
vegetables stood ready before the farmhouse door. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 1 35 

Charlotta came out of the house and cHmbcd into the seat 
She wore a clean bkie Hnen dress and looked like a very fresh 
and ready morning glory. Soon brother John and mother came 
out, too. Big sister Louise smiled good-by at the doorway, John 
started the machine and they were ofif. 

Charlotta gave a little jump of joy. "What a nice time to 
ride," she said. 

"It is nice to leave home at five o'clock," said her mother. 
When I was a little girl we used to leave home at half past two 
to get to market at six o'clock.' "Why?'' said Charlotta. "Can't 
we get to market in an hour?" 

"Yes, now we can — but we couldn't then. The road was 
cither so rough that we could not drive fast or so very deep with 
mud that our horses could scarcely pull the wagon. It used to 
take two horses to pull a load half as large as this one. I was 
just as old as you are the first time I went to market with your 
grandmother. We left home at two o'clock. It was a cold morn- 
ing and very dark. Trees lined the roads on either side so that 
we could scarcely see to drive. It had rained and the mud 
.^plashed over us as the wagon bumped along from one hollow to 
another — now up — now down — while we held firmly to the sides 
of the wagon to keep from falling o!f. We were so glad to turn 
into the road — it was called the Baltimore and Jerusalem turn- 
pike then — and see the other wagons creeping slowly along, 
lighted by lanterns." 

"Not so many as there are now, ' said John, as he skillfully 
swung the big truck out upon the smooth macadam, and wound 
bis way among the wagons and other vcliicles. 

"Oood road, this," he said, critically. Mother, I wonder 
how manv years tb.ey spent filling the hollows vv'ith small stones 
and calling it "fixing the road." Honk! honk! Down the long 
"Herring Run Hill," and up the next hill whiz/ced the big car. 
Now it passed the new brick houses opposite Mr. Erdman's old 
stone house. "Those new houses look very nice,' said mother. 
"I remember when this hill was as high as those houses. It used 
to take three teams of horses to pull one wagon up that hill on a 
snowy day," and here, "as they passed through Georgetown, the 
mud was so deep that our wagons would sink to the hubs of the 
wheels." 

"Oh," said Charlotta. "why didn't they repair it?' 

"The people did i)ay to have it done, but somehow they 
could not make a good road. Do you see that little brown fence? 



136 KKAL STORII^S FROM CALTlMOKIi COUNTY HISTORY 

'Phcre stood the toll-gate house when I was a little girl." "A 
toll-gate? Why, to ring a funeral bell?" asked Charlotta. "Oh, 
no! Everyone who passed had to pay the toll-gate keeper to let 
him pass through. The keeper was supposed to collect the money 
to pay for fixing the road. Such a funny round little man lived 
in that brown house. He always wore brown clothes and talked 
in a high squeaky voice. I used to be just a little afraid of him. 
I didn't know, you see, whether he was a brownie, or not." 

Charlotta laughed. "Why don't they have the man now with 
his funny little house? Doesn't it cost money any more to keep 
the road in repair?" 

"Now the road is owned by the State. We pay taxes to the 
state and some of the money is used to care for the road," an- 
swered mother. 

"Yes, and it is well cared for," said brother John, as they 
l/egan to rattle over the city streets. 

Caroline Oyeman. 

A VISIT TO HAMPTON, AN OLD MARYLAND ESTATE. 

Shall we visit, one of the fine estates not far from Tow- 
.son, where lived one who dreamed of a "garden of delight" and 
helped to make the dream come true ? The garden and the house 
may be seen today, and as we wander about the place we are 
in the land of yesterday. 

From Prospect Hill one catches a glimpse, two and a half 
miles to the northward, of the Ridgely Mansion, the home of 
Charles Ridgely, governor of Maryland nearly a hundred years 
ago. 

Think of an estate of three thousand acres, but in those early 
days large land grants were given. A large part of the estate 
is now let out in farms. The Chew estate was formerly a part 
of the Hampton, but was given as a marriage portion to one of 
the daughters of the family. Should you like to have a nearer 
view of Hampton? We will drive over and Jack, one of our 
little friends who lives on tlie estate, will show us about the place. 

Here is the mansion itself. As we enter the great hall we 
see a large oil painting, a young girl with a harp, the grandmother 
of the recent owner. Jack tells us. "And the very harp she played 
is over in the music room," he says. 

There are two original paintings by Dolci, "The Magdalene" 
and "St. Catherine," bought in Rome ; another by Charles Volk- 
mar. a Raltimorcan, "The Storm," which was exhibited at the 



OXCIv UPON A TlMK IN OL'R TOWN AND VICINITY 137 

"Centennial of 1876 in Philadelphia, and obtained a prize, a Vene- 
tian scene, and many family portraits. We see a statue of 
Charles Ridj^ely by Rhinehart. Jack shows us two curious chairs, 
covered with spun glass, warp of glass, woof of silk, made in 
Turkey. There are great vases, wonderful mirrors, and many 
other treasures of art. 

Outside we see the gardens laid out in terraces in the Italian 
st}le. We visit the green houses and the great family vault. 

Jack tells us that the great mansion was finished in 1787, 
that it was six years building, the family of Captain Ridgely liv- 
ing in the old farm house until the mansion was completed. 

The brick and slate of the building were imported from 
England, but the stone was quarried here. The builders could 
work only by broad daylight for fear of wolves. Just think of it 
— only two and a half miles from your home. 

We hear that the mother of the present owner, Mr. John 
Ridgely, was a granddaughter of John Eager Howard, a former 
governor of Maryland, and a hero of the Revolution. Jack tells 
us also that Cowpens, the Howard estate east of Towson, was 
given its name by the hero himself to keep in memory the battle 
of Cowpens, in which he played such a noble part. 

As we say good-by to Jack, we thank him heartily for our 
pleasant visit to one of the largest and most beautiful estates in 
Maryland. 

Other estates in the vicinity of Towson we might visit. 
There are the De Ford and the Abell estates on the West Joppa 
road, the Hambleton estate and "Brooklandwood," the home of 
the Browns, near Green Spring Valley, the Jenkins estate in 
Green Spring Valley, "Dimibarton" the Rieman estate, and 
"Stoneleigh,'' the Brown estate on the York road. 

Lilla Cunrey. 

HAMPTON HAPPENINGS. 

A STRANGI-: lIOUSIvWAUMINC. 

Mistress Ridgely pulled a rose from the old bush by the 
porch, and, as she drew it through the folds of her snow white 
lodice, thought not of the pink in her cheeks to match the rose, 
but that in the stately mansion yonder where she must now abide 
.she would miss the clinging touch of the old vines and shrubbery. 

For months had the workmen toiled in building with bricks 
imported from England and with stone quarried from the estate, 
and now the beautiful structure stood, a monument to their 



/ 

I3^> KEAI, STORIES FROM BAJVllMOKH COUNTY HISTORY 

Strength, their art, yes, even to their courage, for at the first hint 
of twilight came the low, distant howling of wolves from the 
surrounding forest. Then every human creature must seek safety 
behind the old homestead doors. Even in this retreat as dark- 
ness fell upon the earth the weird night call of the hungry ones 
struck terror into gentle hearts — and this, nine miles from Bal- 
timore Town, liut now in the broad light of day, the young wife 
of Charles Ridgely, one of Maryland's old governors, wended 
her way past the slave quarters on the Hampton estate. Stop- 
ping now and again on an errand of mercy or with a kindly word 
to some old mammy, she received homage from all. At the en- 
trance of the great hall she was met by her lord and master, 
just arrived in his coach and four from Baltimore Town. 

"The hour draws nigh, Elizabeth, when we are to entertain 
our friends. Art thou still of the mind of yestereve, or may 
we not receive together ? ' 

"Charles, I know thou wilt give me this my petition, for 
tliou hast ever been gentle and gracious to me." 

And so it happened that of all house warmings this at the 
Ridgely mansion was one of the strangest — when Captain Ridgely 
upstairs with his friends made merry around the punch bowl, the 
while his fair wife and her guests, one of whom was a Methodist 
preacher, held a prayer meeting in a room below. 

A TRUE MISSIONARY. 

A sad time came when the white-haired mother had left 
her girls. Margaret had not married, but had filled her days with 
ministerings. Especially did her heart yearn to help those to 
whom she felt a peculiar relation, for from a mere child she had 
thought to remove what she considered a blot on the memory of 
her house. For three years after her mother's death she con- 
tinued to help in every possible way the negroes living on the 
estate. Then, no strong tie binding her. she left her home of 
luxury, and went into that far, dark land for which hands seemed 
to beckon and voices plead that she might lead into true life and 
liberty members of the race which her fathers had held in 
bondage. 

OED NANCY. 

Old Nancy was dead, she who had served her white folks 
long and well. In her arms she had held children and children's 
children ; soft baby fingers had lovingly patted the old black face, 
and n(nv in the great hall her body la}- in state. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I39 

White and black bowed together, and as all listened to the 
low. reverent tone? cf the minister, eacli heart prayer was a long- 
ing for as fair a record. 

Through the Italian garden with its terraces and conserva- 
tories they bore old Nancy and laid her in the family vault with 
those she had served. 

THE PORTRAIT. 

One sultry smumer morning more than a century later, a 
white-haired mother with her three daughters sat in the wide hall 
where they had sought the breeziest spot on this hot day. One 
maiden had been reading aloud as the others knitted or sewed. 

Statuary, paintings from famous artists and other works of 
art would reveal to a visitor somebody's gift of selection and 
arrangement. The girl had stopped reading, and her eyes rested 
thoughtfully on a large painting opposite — the portrait of a 
}Oung woman playing a harp. 

"Now, Margaret, do refresh us by your thoughts about the 
first mistress of the hall," said Julia. 

"They were hardly thoughts,' answered the girl, "but rather 
emotions, for I could almost hear the strains of that old harp 
uafted down to me through the ages." 

"Just step into the music room and let us hear what your 
sym])athetic touch can conjure from the identical harp," chirped 
Martha. 

But the mother smilingly said, "Xay, the real is often that 
which we cannot see or hear. Margaret's way of hearkening to 
Mistress Elizabeth's messages may be the true way.' 

Lilla Convey. 
OLE MAMMY TALES. 

CONJURIN(i. 

'IMie negro cabins on one side of the land stretching north- 
ward from the old Chew mansion were smiling in the sunshine of 
that afternoon in July. So was Pappy Gab'l, the old white 
headed darky, who at that moment appeared in the doorway of 
the cabin with its rose bush in front. Each little house had its 
garden made gay with hollyhocks, marigolds, sunflowers and lark- 
sjiurs, but Mammy, who had nursed Mas't Ned and Miss Mary 
all through their babyhood, — well, she was difterent from the 
"other niggahs" and must remind them of it in various ways. 
The rose bush with its delicate pink blooms instead of the 
gorgeous reds and blues was one emblem of her superiority. 



140 KKAL STORIICS FROM BAUIMORF. COUNTY HISTORY 

From Mammy s chimney a festoon of smoke was trailing 
skyward, and there was a sort of relation existing between that 
trail of smoke and Pappy Gab'l's smile. There was to be 
possum for supper,— possmn, juicy and brown, the thought of 
which might make anybody smile. 

As pappy Gab'l stood there, a little figure darted out from 
the group of pickaninnies playing in the lane and came towards 
him, slipping past the old man into the cabin where Mammy was 
"fixing" the possum. 

"Dat boy done smell dat possum 'fob it's cooked, and, of 
course. Mammy she'll have him and Susy come to suppah.'" 

Sure enough, as the sun was dropping down behind the 
pines, there was Susy putting the finishing touches to the cabin 
supper while Mammy was "superintending'' in the big house 
kitchen. 

When she had finished her important task, and had waddled 
in all her dignity past the hollyhocks and marigolds into her 
own little cabin, she saw in the faces of two of its occupants, at 
least, a welcome. Pappy Gab'l's placid, expectant countenance 
and Dan's side glances at the oven from which the possum was to 
issue, told her why. 

When they were in the midst of the feast, Mammy noticed 
that Susy was only pretending to eat. 

"What ails you, Susy?" she asked. At first Susy said, 
"nothing, ' but being pressed she opened her heart to Mammy 
and Pappy Gab'l. She spoke in a low, earnest voice, while her 
eyes had the eager, half frightened expression that might come 
from seeing objects and activities not akin to this world of ours. 
From their depths shown out wonder at the strangeness, horror 
at the sense of danger, awe at the assurance of a supernatural 
power. 

"You know, Mammy," she was saying, "Ag managed de 
washin' at de big house, befoh I did it an' she didn't want to give 
it up, no how, an she's real mad 'cause missus give it to me, an' 
I so seabed fob feah she conjuh me I can't sleep at nights. Fm 
just suah she has de evil eye." 

"Fan' sakes, Susy, you don't say ! ' exclaimed Pappy Gab'l 
rolling his eyes. 

"Yes, it's honest true, dem what has de evil eye does awful 
things. Dah was Miss Pattersons Julie. She done de wash 
dat used to b'long to old Kate, ana' dat same day, befoh de clo's 



ONCE UPON A TIMB: in OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I4I 

was in de rench watah, Julie was took with a pain in her lef leg. 
An it got worse an worse, an after a while it bust." 

"An' dah was Myry Johnson. Her sistah-in-law had a 
grudge agin her foh somethin or otah, an' one night Myry found 
a hundle on the floah. She done opened it an' dah was some 
old rags and some stones. But she knowed she was conjuhed, 
an' true a^ I'm heah, Myry was daid befoh de yeah was out." 

"An dah was my aunt's husband s fatah, he nevah dA no 
ha'm to nobody, but you know why his cabin burnt down, " 

"Now see heah, Susy,'' interrupted Mammy. "You spilin' 
dis possum. It may be true, all you been sayin', but de Lord an' 
ole Missy an' Mass r has alius took good caah of us, hasn't they .^'' 

"Ye-es," admitted Susy. 

"Then, just eat some of this nice possum/' persuaded Mam- 
my. 

And Susv, her heart unburdened, drew a long i)reath, and 
ate her supper. 

Lilla Conrey. 

MAMMY JUDY. 

A comfortable looking old mammy was Judy. Her broad, 
good-natured face of ebony darkness set off the white of her eyes 
in their manner of rolling from side to side, a habit she had in- 
stead of turning her head to look at you. Her teeth, still sound 
and dazzling, had occasion to show themselves many times in 
the course of a day, for a kindly heart and a sense of the hiunor- 
ous found vent in frequent peals of laughter, often veritable 
thunder claps. Matching the good humor in her face and the 
jolliness of her laugh, the robustness of her figure stood out be- 
fore you in all its mightiness as she approached with waddling 
gait. Dressed with all cleanhness and neatness, with never a 
gap between buttons, or an untidy meeting of waist and skirt, 
for mammy alwa}s had her dresses made "plent\- big." in her 
large spotlessly white apron, she always had the appearance of 
having just emerged from a giant bandbox. Never having to 
bother with skillet or dishpan, with washtub or iron board, but 
just to look after two "bressed jewels" all the day, the keeping 
tidy was for mammy one of the com])aratively easy things of life. 
The "bressed jewels" ]:)resented two far more difticult jiroblems. 
the daily .solving of which required thonght. lUit labor ungrudg- 
ingly given for love's sake, with much fun and sympathy thrown 
in. sows grav hairs anrl wrinkles sjjaringly, so mammy kept her 



142 RlvAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

youth, her happiness, and her important place in the family. It 
is true she had to keep an eye "on Hen,' her grandson, but that 
duty was of secondary consideration. 

As she came that morning through the gateway, her ponder- 
ous form seemed to have broadened alarmingly, for, with some 
labor, she pushed herself between the gateposts. All along the 
path you watched her coming and still you wondered at the 
amazing breadth of her, till, chancing to see two tiny feet patter- 
ing below the spacious skirts, you discovered little Ned walking, 
as part of mammy, under the great white apron. 

As they came up the marble steps and entered the great hall- 
way, Ned, peeping out, spied "Hen," who was descending by 
slow degrees in tlie scrubbing process. And "Hen," knowing 
that mammy was there looking at him, added not a single arm 
movement to the minute. "Henry !" she called, and slowly the 
fat cheeked, flat nosed cherub turned and looked down at her. 

"Henry, you suttanly foolin' you' time. What ails you? Did 
you say yo' prayers dis moahnin'?" 

"No'm,' he coolly answered, "I nevah says 'em on Satuh- 
days." 

"Henry," said mammy in horrilied tones, "get right down, 
dis minute an' say yo' prayers.'' 

Then the queer little figure doubled himself up on the first 
dry step, and, planting his elbows in a puddle on the step above 
buried his face in the small, soapy hands. 

Silently mammy and Ned watched until he had finished. 
When he turned and looked down at them mammy, rolling her 
eyes solemly, said, "Henry, does you know what will happen if 
you don' say >o' prayers?'" 'Go to foment," he answered, as if 
he were calmly and deliberately pronouncing his own doom. 

"An' you don' want to go dah, does you, Henry ? ' 

"Yes'm," he chirped, as he went on with his scrubbing. "I 
fink I d like to go jis to see what it' like." 

But something, it may have been mammy's great concern 
for him, or tbe prayer he had said, or some of the fire of his dar- 
ing words, had put nimbleness into the fingers and sprightliness 
into the funny little body, for very soon the stairs were finished, 
and with his mouth all apucker for whistling, his fat cheeks 
pufifed out to their fullest — down the lane went "Hen" to show 
Billy and Ned a rabbit trap he was making. 

Lilla Convey. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I43 

THE BREAKING UP OF CAMP. 

It was peep of day, with life just beginning to stir on the 
camp-meeting ground. The bugle call for awakening had been 
sounded from the depth of oaks and chestnuts and the brothers 
and sisters must assemble in one grand body before the pulpit 
tent. 

Until a late hour of the preceding night, the long backless 
pine board seats had been occupied by the "cullud' folk, some 
listening earnestly to the exhortations of the preacher, nodding 
their heads solemnly in affirmation of his words of wisdom or 
shaking them dolefully at thoughts of their own or ot others' 
shortcomings, while others, the younger ones in the audience, en- 
tered also into the camp-meeting spirit in which the sense of free- 
dom and the wearing of holiday clothes played an important part. 
As the hours had passed on toward midnight children slept on 
mossy beds under trees, and even a dignified old mammy here and 
there showed signs of succumbing in frequent nods and jerks, 
and escapes from headlong precipitation into cavernous depths 
under benches. Somebody had started a hymn, which was taken 
up by a trembling treble from the amen corner. Joined by one 
and then another the rhythmic melody had reached heights of 
jubilance interspersed with shouts of "Glory !" "Hallelujah !" 
"Bress de Lawd, I's His !'' 

The preacher had raised his hand as if calling for silence, 
and the song died out with a few lingering sobs and bursts of 
emotion. They must rest now until the break of daylight, he 
had told them, and then meet for the last farewell. Soon the 
pine seats had become white streaks in the moonlight, and the 
rows of canvas tents a miniature city wrapped in slumber. 

But now, in the early morning, the tents had given up their 
occupants and these in a body awaited the opening note of the 
farewell chorus. The signal given, the leaders started down the 
wide central aisle between the rows of benches. In and out 
through the aisles glided the figures in graceful lines, the old 
women in their bonnets and shawls as for a journey, young girls 
in their brightest ribbons, old men and youths and children, not 
one losing step or making a false mrivcnient in the passing of the 
lines. And through it all the hand shaking and the marching 
were in perfect unison with the accompanying refrain, "Fa-ge- 
well, bruddahs, fa-gewcll, fa-ge-well !" 



144 RItAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

To the eye of the onlooker there were artistic groupings and 
picturesqueness of grace iinsurpassed by Greek or Norwegian 
folk dance. To his spiritual sense there came evidence of re- 
ligious fervor where human souls came heart to heart with the 
God over all. 

To the participants in this grand finale of a session set apart 
from the rest of the year, who knows what was given of uplift 
and inspiration, of needed change in lives which for many meant 
drudgery and suffering and the bearing of burdens. 

Lilla Conrey. 

COLONEL HARRY GILMOR. 

During the war between the North and the South, called the 
Civil War, small bands of men under adventurous leaders acted 
as scouts, riding in every direction, burning bridges, cutting wires, 
capturing railroad trains and carrying off horses. One small 
party, under Harry Gilmor, is noted for its daring raids mcide in 
different parts of the county. Once they came within five miles 
of Baltimore and burned the country home of Governor Brad- 
ford. Other raids were made in the neighborhood of Towson, 
Mt. Washington, Reisterstown and Fork. 

Earl Southard, of the fifth grade, writes the report of a 
story still told of Colonel Harry Gilmor in the neighborhood of 
Fork : 

"On one of his raids through this section he stole a horse 
from Mr. John Slade and gave in exchange an old plug. He 
seemed always in need of fresh horses, and did not hesitate to 
take them wherever he could find them." 

It was in this neighborhood, also, that the Union soldiers 
were worried by his command of sixty men. The Union soldiers 
were on the watch for the fearless Confederate raider, and were 
encamped on a bank in a field belonging to Mr. Frank Morgan) 
but tired and worn after nights of watching they fell asleep, and 
Gilmor escaped from his enemy. 

It is also told that as he passed the home of Ishmael Day, 
now the home of George Dilworth, between Fork and Kingsville, 
he saw an American flag floating from the building. You must 
remember that the stars and stripes were used by the Union 
soldiers while the Confederates had the stars and bars. Just 
at the time of this war the stars and stripes seemed hateful to 
them. One man in Gilmor's liand sa'd he would tear down the 



ONCE UPON A TIMK IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I45 

flag and tie it to his horse's tail. This was too much for Ishmael 
Day. The insuh to the flag roused his wrath, and he shot and 
killed the man who attempted it. Gilmor s band, however, set 
fire to the house, burned it to the ground, and killed the horse 
upon which Day tried to escape. He dropped down behind some 
brush, where he was safely hidden while the raiders dashed on 
to some other deed of warfare. 

Passano, in "Maryland, Stories from Her History," tells a 
most interesting story of one of his raids as told by Gilmor him- 
self, which I hope you will read. It shows the fearless character 
of the man whose business it was to "look up the enemy" as he 
says. War is not all glory and romance. We can smile at some 
things which are done, but they are few in number. War is 
the killing of men, a poor means used for the purpose of settling 
seme disputed question. The soldiers are not to blame, they are 
sent]to war to fight. Great nations, like small boys, still like to 
fight, but that is because the old idea of "might makes right" 
still exists in the minds of some leaders. H people everywhere 
thought more of the horrors of war, of the bloodshed and cruelty 
and less of the gay uniforms and brass bands which appear on 
dress parade, it would not take long to develop world peace. 
That nation will be great which shall lead all the nations of the 
world to be as eager for peace as once all nations were eager for 
war. Then we will pay tribute to our heroes of peace as we 
now give praise to our heroes of war. 

Isabel Davidson. 

A WMR IXCIDENT AT BAYNESVHXE. 

One summer evening every one was sitting on their porches 
awaiting they knew not what, for these were war times and no 
one knew just what would happen ne.xt. A faint drum beat was 
heard in the distance. Every one became excited, running to and 
fro, talking in loud tones, saying foolish things, and even shedding 
tears. "The soldiers are coming! The soldiers are coming!" 
cried the men. "Hide the silver! ' cried the women, l^ut every 
one had lost his head, and instead of putting their valuables away 
in safty they were strewn about in great disarray. The houses 
looked as if they had been wind-swe])t. 

The sound of the drum came nearer and nearer. The panic 
became greater, but amid the excitement one old man staved in 
his own front vard. calmlv waiting the coming of the soldiers. 



I4<3 REAL STOKIJCS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

His ne-ghbors called, "Come in! Come in! you will be shot!" 
but the old man only shook his head and stood there like a senti- 
nel on guard. A large troup of soldiers appeared around the 
bend. They saluted the old man, and the general, who was none 
other than General Harry Gilmor, told him that no one would 
suffer any harm if obedient to his commands. This is the way 
of war, and this was a touch of military power exercised by this 
brave scout. Some of his soldiers went to the different houses 
with the same message. Doors were opened by many, but hurry- 
ing soldiers did not wait for doors to swing wide — they had no 
time for that — in their haste they simply knocked a door inward 
and entered without ceremony. Many were rude, taking ad- 
vantage of the helplessness of women and children, and demanded 
food. No doubt they were hungry, and the women responded 
^vith alacrity, getting them the best their larders afforded ; bread, 
butter, meat, preserves and fresh fruit and vegetables from or- 
chard and garden. All this took a much shorter time than in 
the telling. Soon the soldiers are on the march again, and it 
was a comical sight to see them marching away with bread, 
butter, vegetables and fruit under their arms. As they marched 
away they lifted their hats to the ladies and smiled and thanked 
them for the good things they now had in their possess'on. They 
had taken it, willy-nilly, but now that they had it their natural 
courtesy returned and they left as gay as you please. Just out- 
side of Baynesville they sat down in a hay field and ate their 
suppers in a merry mood, recounting the ludricous happenings 
of the last few hours, no doubt. 

But what of the homes so lately visited by the band of 
raiders? Each house now looked as if a hurricane had indeed 
swept through, for the soldiers in their haste had upset tables, 
chairs and dishes and this, added to the disarrangement due to 
panic upon their approach, caused considerable discomfort and 
disquietude, spoiling the spirit of the coming Sabbath as well as 
the usual good Sunday dinner. 

I haven't a bit of doubt, however, but that the small boys 
p.nd girls were glad to go supperless to bed on that occasion, 
and perhaps if the truth were told, they rather envied the soldier 
lads who could so easily obtain a suj'jpcr upon demand. 

Adapted, Julia Cassen. 



ONCE UPON A tijme; in our town and vicinity 147 

THE STORY OF A PHILANTHROPIST 

MOSES SHEPPARD. 

One day while riding down a shaded roadway, ahout one 
mile from Towson, I caught a glimpse of a beautiful building 
set well back from the road in most attractive grounds. Upon 
inquiry I learned that it was the Sheppard Hospital, an important 
and useful institution. Since then I have learned something of 
the man who made this institution possible. "A man of deeds 
and not of words," was Moses Sheppard. 

He was born in Pennsylvania in 1773, but his ancestors 
came over in the Mayflower. His grandfather was the first 
minister at Cambridge, Mass., so you see he came of good New 
England stock. However, young Moses was soon left to shift 
for himself, as his parents died while he was a small boy. He 
drifted into Maryland and before long he was engaged as a 
mill hand at the Jericho Mills, not so far from Baltimore. From 
all that I can learn, Moses did not like the whir and stir of the 
mill any too well, and like most boys, sought the city, becoming 
an errand boy in a grocery store. I think he must have swept the 
store with a will and run errands swiftly, tied packages deftly, 
for in a short time he was promoted to the position of clerk. 
That must have been a happy day for the lonely lad, but not half 
so proud could he have been as when he became a partner and 
hnally the owner of the business. In 1820 he established on 
Light street the first private tobacco inspection warehouse in 
Baltimore. He had made a fortune slowly, comfortably, and 
retired from business in the full vigor of manhood to devote him- 
self to doing good. 

"A man of deeds, not of words, ' he helped the poor and 
needy without display. He sought out those who were worthy, 
and to them he gave such aid as they needed to get right with the 
world again. He followed the old Biblical injunction, "Let not 
thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth,' and often his 
friends or those who did not understand him were annoyed at his 
secrecy. He hated any show, any pretense, and a parade of any 
kind. Doing good to him meant service rendered to others with- 
out the usual commendation of his fellows ; indeed, he seemed al- 
ways to shun and to fear words of praise from others. He found 
his keenest joy, not in co-operation with others, but in being able 
to provide the opportunity or open the door to young people of 
l^romisc. Manv orphan girls and boys have reason to be grate- 



J4'S RF.AL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

fill to this cold, quiet man who never even let them know the 
name of their benefactor. Some he educated in whole or in part 
until able to take care of themselves ; tQ others he advanced sums 
of money sufficient to enable them to begin business in a moderate 
way. 

He was a plain, blunt man, quiet in his habits, thoughtful and 
forceful in speech, yet underneath this quiet exterior there beat a 
warm, sympathetic heart, particularly for those who had to en- 
counter some of the same struggles which he had met and con- 
quered by force of character. He had been denied the oppor- 
tun'ty for much school life, his education being gained almost 
wholly at first-hand through contact with men and things. And 
he mastered both ! He was very well-read, and in later life spent 
a good deal of time recording his views of life. Long before he 
died he planned the institution which bears his name, but quite 
in keeping with his desire to serve the community quietly, he 
])roposed that the plan should not be perfected and made public 
until after his death. He provided in his will that the mass of 
his fortune should be devoted to the hospital which bears his 
name. Isabel Davidson. 

A VISIT TO ST. VINCENT'S ORPHAN ASYLUM, 
YORK ROAD. 

One autumn afternoon, when the leaves were gold and red, 
we walked up the path leading to the big house which sets well 
back from the road. You can see St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum 
as you ride by, and somehow the word asylum makes you think 
all sorts of sad, hard things, and you wonder how anyone can be 
really happy in such a place. But that is because in the long ago, 
large homes, or asylums as they were called, were not very home- 
like. Often we read of children who were not well taken care 
of in homes of this kind, but it is not the case at this big, splendid 
home. Here one hundred and forty-eight little boys, ranging 
from three to fourteen years, find a home, who might not have 
another, certainly none so good and comfortable. 

Come with me and we may see what those boys are doing. 
Real boys they are, do-ng real things. Some are at plav out on 
the plavground, some are out walking with a sister. Just before 
we left this jxirty returned laden with great bunches of autumn 
leaves, all yellow and gold and red ; a bit of the forest to place 
in the schoolrooms, for vou must know that these little boys go 



OXCK UPON A Tl3fE IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I49 

to school five hours a day, just as other ])oys and girls. There is 
a kindergarten, too, where the very little ones learn to sing pretty 
songs and tell pretty stories and play games. But it is not all 
play and outdoor walks at St. Vincent's. It couldn't be. 'J'he 
boys would get tired of "all pla} ." for though the rhyme says, 
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,' we can easily 
turn it around and say, "All play and no work makes Jack a dull 
boy," too. Some of the boys work while others play, then their 
playtime comes when others work, for every one has a chance to 
learn how to do things with a sister to show them how. There 
is a bread team, the scrubbing team, the wa'ter team, the dvist- 
ing team, as well as the football team, basket-ball team and other 
teams. 

One hundred and forty-eight boys need plenty to eat, and 
when you peeped into the great bins, which held the oatmeal, the 
cream of wheat, the corn-meal ,the corn flakes and other cereals, 
aad compared this quantity with the box of breakfast food which 
mother has on her pantry shelf ; or when you peeped into the 
fruit room and saw shelf after shelf filled with preserves, pickles 
and fruits of every kind ; peaches, pears, plums, cherries, toma- 
toes, you realized how much it takes to feed hungry boys. The 
cereals are all cooked in the fireless cooker, so that it is not much 
trouble, for it cooks all n'ght and is nice and hot in the morning 
for breakfast of cereal, bread and coffee and fruit. 

We saw the room where the flour is kept, great bags of it, 
just enough to last for a short t-me, the sister said. Whoever 
saw a boy who did not like plenty of bread and butter? In this 
room the bread is made by the boys under the direction of a sis- 
ter. ]^)Ut I am glad they do not have to mix it. Little arms even 
on a fourteen-year-old boy would grow tired mixing all that 
would be needed at one baking. There is a mixer run bv elec- 
tricity, and all that is needed is to pour the flour, water, salt and 
the yeast into the hopper and turn on the current until it is mixed 
into dough, and made stiff enough to be made into loaves. 

At one end of the room are shelves built into the wall upon 
which the loaves of dough are j)laced over night and left to rise. 
In the morning all the pans arc pop[>ed into the oven and there 
it is left to bake until each loaf is a nice golden brown. Then 
out of the oven — which, by the way, has many shelves and room 
for many pans — the golden loaves come, and are carried away by 
the bread boys to the pantry, ready to l)e served when the meal 



150 RliAI, STORIKS FROM BALTIMORIv COUNTY HISTORY 

time comes. Then it is cut into slices by a bread-cutting machine, 
and carried to the long tables in the dining room by the "little 
waiters." 

We arrived in the dining room shortly before tea-time, and 
several little fellows were arranging the tables and placing the 
food in its proper place upon each one. At each table a larger 
boy takes charge during the meal and sees that small boys are 
taken care of in the right way. Of course a sister is always 
there, too, but some of the care falls to the boys themselves. The 
boys all looked healthy and well-fed, as if the dinner of meat 
and three vegetables and dessert, often cake ; and the tea, with 
bread, milk and fruit, together with the breakfast, was just right 
for most of them. You will be glad to know, too, that about 
twice a month a treat of candy comes their way. 

Not only do the boys help prepare the food, but, as fate will 
have it, the dishes fall to their lot as well. I am sure they dislike 
this task quite as much as ordinary boys in the usual home ; but 
in this "Big Home" everyone must learn to do all the duties that 
a home requires — it is a part of their training — so each week 
groups are detailed for certain tasks, and dishwashing is one of 
them, for when we eat there are dishes to wash, as a matter of 
course. Some day, perhaps, they will have a dishwashing ma- 
chine, who knows? Then the boys will have something else to 
do instead of dishwashing. But dishwashing is not all. There 
are floors to scrub, windows to wash, porches to sweep, falling 
leaves to gather in the fall, and weeds to pull in the spring. There 
is always plenty to do. Still we can remember that "many hands 
make light work' and let us hope that no little fellow works 
harder than he is able to stand. A task happily done is almost 
play, and many things are done cheerfully. After the evening 
tea is over everyone goes to chapel ; then comes bedtime. Bed- 
t"me means a scrubbing time to these little boys. I hope they 
like it. Most boys don't, but it is a good habit to instill, never- 
theless. Each must wash his face, and hands, and ears, and scrub 
his teeth, take a shower bath in summer, and a tub bath three 
times a week in winter. So you see, there are no dirty hands to 
be seen on the little sleepers. No wonder they can keep the beds 
so clean, for only clean little bodies jump into them at night. 

Come with us and peep into the dormitory, with its long 
rows of i)ure white beds, so spotless and well made, that you won- 
der how little fellows could ever have done it all. Yet, each boy 



ONCE UPON A TIMIC IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I5I 

makes his own bed, and if he is too little an older boy helps until 
the child learns how. The room is so airy and bright with so 
many open windows, rarely closed, even in winter, that it is as 
fresh as a sleeping porch. 

There are two dormitories, one for the smaller boys, and 
one for the larger ones ; both spotless and perfect. It must be 
a pretty sight to see each small boy in his little white bed. I 
wonder whether they ever play as most boys do, and talk some, 
as they drop off to dreamland, one by one, in this great room? 
Yes, I think they do, for these are real boys who do real things ; 
at bedtime, as well as other times. In the morning when the 
rising bell rings, does any have the chance to be "a. dillar a dollar, 
a ten o'clock scholar,'' or "lazy bones" and come down to break- 
fast late? I am sure not, unless one is ill and then he is taken 
to the infirmary at once. 

There is a fine room which is fitted up as the infirmary, 
where all sick children are kept until well. A nurse is in charge, 
who has a room just outside the door. A tiny kitchenette has 
also been provided and the dumb-waiter from the kitchen below 
brings up the necessary food which the nurse prepares daintily 
to coax the appetite of the little sick child. But there has been 
very little sickness in the home, and only one death in seventeen 
years, which is a good record. 

Should a fire break out in the building at night, the children 
can escape from one dormitory by means of the spiral slide, and 
from the other by way of the usual fire escape. The first time a 
little fellow goes out by way of the spiral slide he is afraid that 
something will happen — he knows not what — the second time he 
is less timid, and the third time he I'kes it. Last winter when a 
fire did break out in the main building, the house was emptied 
in a minute and a half. Pretty quick time, wasn't it? This was 
the result of frequent fire drills, of course. Some one who saw 
all those little fellows standiing out in the cold, raw, March air 
in their night clothes said it was an interesting sight, so well- 
trained were those "soldiers of the little white beds." 

Who furnishes the clothes these boys wear? we asked. A 
sister told us laughingly, "You should see my bill for wearing ap- 
parel. I have just ordered five hundred complete outfits for my 
family. Each boy is provided with three complete outfits, in- 
cluding shoes, hats, coats, suits and underwear; one for Sunday, 
and two for second best." As we went into the children's re- 



152 REM. STORIKS FROM BALriMURK COUNTY HISTORY 

ception room we saw great bolts of cloth which were to be made 
into blue blouses for every-day wear. Still I did not feel as if 
every child was dressed like every other child. Different ages 
call for changes, so there is variety in dress which makes it a 
bit more like a real home. 

Once a month the boys are permitted to have visitors — rela- 
tives, or guardians, or friends. A room has been fitted up as a 
children's parlor or* receiving room. Guests are admitted by a 
sister, who is present at this time. I don't know whether any 
little boy can entertain his friend by taking him out to the play- 
ground for a game of marbles, should he be interested in marbles, 
or show him the chickens that lay the eggs for the cake they eat, 
or the cows that give the good, rich milk they drink, or the fields 
where the wild-flowers grow. I am afraid not, but all the little 
boys of the home come to know them very well, as they stay 
here all the year round. 

Not far away from the main buildings are the gardens, where 
the fruit and vegetables are raised, the fields wer'e the corn and 
potatoes are grown. A farmhouse in which the farmer lives is 
nearby. There are chickens, pigs, cows and horses for the chil- 
dren to love, and all over this small farm they are permitted to 
go, both for work and play. So these boys have both indoor and 
outdoor life, and they are learning how to do many things with 
their hands, learning to be thoughtful and kind, and helpful. 
This home gives them a chance to live and to learn. 

How did anyone ever come to think of taking care of little 
orphan boys in this way? Once upon a time, a very good man 
was very much interested in boys, small boys as well as older 
boys, and particularly those who had no father or mother to 
look after them. This was Father McGillen, of St. Vincent's 
Church, in St. Vincent's parish. 

About 1840 he organized an asylum for the small boys in 
whom he was so much interested. At first it was a church so- 
ciety, but it is no longer so. It works in connection with the 
church, but it is chartered by the Legislature, so it gets some 
money from the State. Boys from anywhere in the city and the 
State, needing just such care as the home gives, may be, received 
here if the board of directors aj^proves. When a boy enters here 
he becomes a ward of the asylum until he is fourteen. Every- 
thing he wears, everything he eats, everything he has, is pro- 
vided by the ones who support the institution. Many little boys 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITV 1 53 

are taken from St. \'incent's Infant Asylum in the city and placed 
here when old enough. Mr. Deupert, who has been president of 
the board for thirty years, or more, is like a father to the children, 
and they look upon him as their friend. Seven years ago, finding 
its city quarters too cramped, the institution was moved to its 
present attractive location. Isabel Davidson. 

THE HISTORY OF GLEN ARM. 

FROM MANOR TO VILLAGE. 

Katherine and I were walking leisurely along the road, en- 
joying the balmy spring air, and did not notice the big automobile 
coming quietly towards us, until we realized that same one was 
speaking. Then we looked up, and saw an elderly man, leaning 
out of the automobile. "Could you ladies tell me if this is Tow- 
son? ' 

"No, sir, it is not. Towson is about six miles farther on. 
This is Glen Arm," we replied. 

"Glen Arm, what a pretty Scotch name ! Thank you ! ' he 
said, and the machine went on. 

■'Did you hear what he said about the name 'Glen Arm' be- 
ing a pretty Scottish name?" I asked my friend. 

"Yes, I wonder if it is Scott'sh,' she replied. 

"Do you know I never thought of that. Let us see if we 
can't find out. For one really should know sonrething about the 
place in which one lives." I said. 

With this object in view we decided to ask Mr. Ikn-k, the 
station agent, who knew a great deal about such things. 

"You want to know where Glen Arm got its nam's," he said. 
"Well, it was named by a Mr. Thomas Armstrong, at one time 
treasurer of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad, for his 
old home in Scotland.'' 

We then a.sked, "But, Mr. Rurk, when was that? Tell us 
all you know about Glen Arm. ' 

"Tell you all I know about Gilen Arm? There isn't very 
much to tell you. However, here it is: All this tract of land 
around here was owned by a Mr. Benjamin W^ilson, who obta'ined 
it by a jjatent. Later it was divided into three manors, l)Ut was 
still owned by members of the Wilson family. The name of one 
of these manors was "Land of Promise." There is an old 
manor stone, which is at the end of Mr. Shanahan's lot. and 
Mr. Walter's field, right there near the schoolhousc." 



154 RIvAL STOKIDS 1-ROM CALTl MORK COUNTY HISTORY 

"What do you mean by the 'old manor stone?' " I asked. 

"It is a large gray stone placed in the ground at that spot 
and is one of the oldest landmarks in the country. All surveys 
were made from it. The 'manor line' runs from this stone to 
Mr. Streett's lane, between his and Miss Beatty's farm, and forms 
a straight line out to the Dulaney's Valley pike. 

"This land was in the posession of the Wilson family for 
years. J Jut about thirty years ago they began selling it off in 
small tracts.. Mr. Adam Reier was one of the first ones to buy. 
Later tracts were sold to Mr. F. B. Hooper, Mr. Andy Shear- 
man, Mr. Shanahan and Mr. A. A. Piper. ' 

"But was the railroad always here?" I asked. 

"Oh, no, indeed, there was no Glen Arm until that came 
through, which was in 1882, for it was then that Mr. Armstrong 
named the station Glen Arm, and the postoffice took the same 
name. The first station was located at the Glen Arm crossing, 
but which most people now call "Leight's Crossing." Mr. John 
Mullenaux was the first station agent, and he was also the post- 
master and storekeeper. About three years later it was moved 
to its present location. I am the sixth agent in all thes'a years — 
Iwo up at the old location and four down here. Mr. Ambrose 
was the second agent here, and the station burned down during 
his time as agent. Th'en Mr. Hooper had the station in his shop 
until they moved the old station down from Baldwin.' 

"But when was this station built?" asked Katherine. 

"It was built in 1909, the old station was sold to Mr. Adam 
Reier for $25, and he now uses it for a warehouse, after having 
moved it across tire track." 

"What about Mr. Hooper's shop? When was it started?' 

"Oh, Glen Arm never was of any consequence until the 
shop started. However, here comes Mr. Hooper and he can tell 
you. Mr. Hooper, these girls want to know when your shop 
started." 

"They do? That is easy to tell them. It began in 1900. 
I bought the land from Mr. Cal-eb Wilson, and built the shop 
from the stones that were in an old house, commonly known 
as "Eden Castle," whxh stood near where my own house is now." 

"Was your shop then just as it is now?' I asked. 

"No indeed, I have an old picture of it that I will show you 
sometime. I have added to it four times as my business has 
increased. Just lately, you know, I have put in my new power 
plant." 



ONCE UPON A TlMK IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I55 

"But what about the school ? Where did the children go 
before this one was built?" 

"At first they went to Greenwood. Later Miss Louise Stieg- 
ler tixLiglit over Mr. Reier's store, which was then on the corner 
rear his house. This school lasted until the new one was built 
in 1903.' 

"W'ell, that is all, I suppose, Mr. Burk, and thank you very 
much. 

Then we started homeward, but we could not help thinking 
of the difference between the t'me when Glen Arm was a manor 
and now when it has a railroad by which we can go to Baltimore 
in forty minutes ; a population of two hundred and fifty, and 
pretty homes dotted around on the hills. Grace Burton. 

THE INDIAN CAVES. 

It was the first day of May. It was a perfect May Day. 
The sun shone clear and bright. Everywhere the birds were 
singing as they went busily about their work. 

I was on my way to school, but walking very slowly, for I 
wished to enjoy all the beauty of the morning. Upon reaching 
the schoolhouse I was greeted with the cry : "Oh, Miss Smith, 
please take us Maying this afternoon." Another pleaded, "Oh, 
3'es, please do, we will work twice as hard if you will just take 
us." I felt that I could work with right good will if I knew 1 
was going to have the afternoon in the woods, so I said, "AU 
right, where shall we go?" 

No one could answer that question until one little boy piped 
up, "Please take us to the Indian caves.' Immediately some on? 
asked, "Where are they?" "I never heard of them before." I 
iiad been there, and I thought Walter's suggestion a very good 
one. So we decided to go to the Indian caves. 

At one o'clock everyone was ready and off we started, tak- 
ing the road through the woods. As we walked along, picking 
flowers, the children were eager to know all about the Indian 
caves. 

"Miss Sm'th, why do they call them the 'Indian caves'? ' said 
a bright, third-grade boy. 

"Because the Indians once lived in them. We know this 
i)ccause people have found tomahawks, feathers, arrows and flint 
stones in and near the caves." 



X56 RKAL STOKTr;3 FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"And were the arrows like Hiawatha's 'winged with feathers 
and tipped with flint? " asked Howard, who had always been 
very much interested in Hiawatha. 

"Perhaps they were. You see at one time the Indians are 
supposed to have lived all about here. This was, of course, 
many, many years ago. I have heard some one say that they 
named the valley in which Mr. Bonaparte s farm is, 'Snow Bird 
Valley.' Isn't that a pretty name?" 

So we walked, picked flowers, and talked until we came to 
Mr. Hartley's mill. 

"See, children," I said, "The caves are over half-way up that 
steep hill. ' 

"O, but how will we ever get up there?" exclaimed Mamie. 

"Walk up," said Walter, "I've been up there lots of times. 
Just watch me !" 

So saying he started up the hill and we scrambled after him 
as best we could. With much laughing and talking we finally 
reached the level place near the caves and stood looking around 
the country. Everyone agreed that it was worth the labor, for 
besides the pretty view, it seemed that he prettiest flowers and 
choices ferns grew near the caves. 

But the children wanted to explore the caves. So we entered 
and walked in them for a short distance, but it was so very 
dark we soon came out. We think it must be much darker now 
than when the Indians lived in them. However, they extended 
I)ack some thirty or forty feet, and one cave seemed to lead into 
another. 

The buzzards had found this a fine place for a home, and so 
had built their nests there. One brave little boy crawled back 
into the cave and came out with two large buzzard eggs. 

"What are those birds flying around in there?" asked Mary. 

"They are bats, and bats and buzzards have taken possession 
of the Indians' home." 

"But why did the Indians leave it? I think it would have 
been nice to have lived here, and a fine place to hide," said 
Charles. 

"I cannot tell you just why they left it, but I imagine it was 
because the white people came and settled too close to their home. 
Let's all of us imagine we were here when the Indians lived 
here. What do you see?' 

"I see a papoose hanging on this tree. The poor little baby 
is crying, but the mother wants to teach it not to cry, so she 



oncd; upon a time in our town and vicinity 157 

doesn't pay any attention to it," said one of the older pupils. 

"I see two Ind'an men fishing in Mr. Hartley's mill stream." 

"I see some little Ind-an boys making bows and arrows like 
Hiawatha s." 

"I see some Indian women working up this ground with their 
digging sticks. They are getting ready to plant corn." 

Thus the answers came, each one eager to tell what he saw. 
We lingered, filled with the charm of the place, untd the sun was 
quite low in the heavens, when suddenly we realized it was time 
to go home. Going down the hill was, of course, easier than 
coming up, and so we soon reached the road again, but paused a 
few minutes to see the stone with the hole where the Indian 
women pounded the'r corn. 

With our arms loaded with dogwood and wild honeysuckle 
we started homeward, still thinking of the Indian caves, now in- 
habited by buzzards and bats. Mary V. Smitli. 

SUNNYBROOK— PAST AND PRESENT. 

One would travel a long distance in order to find a more 
beautiful plage than Sunny brook. It is a very small village 
along the Jarrettsville Pike, fifteen miles northeast of Baltimore^ 
and three miles from the railroad station at Phoenix. From this 
high point miles of country are seen stretching away toward the 
south, east and west. On a very clear day, the Cathol'c Church 
at Towson, which is seven and a half miles distant, can be seen 
from the porch of Sunnybrook school. 

An old gentleman sat on the porch of a farmhouse at Sunny- 
brook one afternoon in April, watching a group of children at 
play. Suddenly they spied him, and in an instant they gathered 
about him, saying, "Grandfather, please tell us a story." 

"You shall have a story — a true story," he said. Many years 
ago, when I was a very I'ttle boy, I sometimes went to Balt;more 
with my father in his market wagon. In those days we did not 
travel on the Jarrettsville pike for there was no such road. It 
w^as not built until some years later, in 1864. We used the road 
that connects with the pike at the blacksmith shop, and it was 
known as the York road. 

I remember passing through Sunnybrook on those trips, but 
it was qu'te dilYerent from what it is now. There was no church, 
no school, no store, no blacksmith shop, not even a house except 
the old log house in Mr. Wolfe's yard, and Sotcv <; house, and 



158 RICAL STOR.ir:s FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

also King's house, which was used as a hotel then. We always 
stopped there to water our horses. 

The house in which Mr. Soter lives is the oldest one, and it 
was built over a hundred years ago, before I was born. 

"Grandfather, who lived in that house?" 

"That was the home of Colonel James Sterrett. He owned 
about fifteen hundred acres of land, part of which is now Sunny- 
brook. I lis estate was called Wellington. The land on which 
the school, the store and the blacksmith shop stand belonged to 
Colonel Sterrett. The farms belonging to Mr. Wolfe and Mr. 
l-'hillips were also a part of Wellington. 

There were two other men whose names are remembered as 
large land-owners in the neighborhood of Sunnybrook. They 
\vre Mr. Britton and Mr. Gorsuch. The Britton property ex- 
tended from the cross-roads toward Warren and the Gorsuch 
property included Mrs. Davis' farm and Mr. Frank Smith's. Mr, 
Lynch was an early owner of the Herron property." 

"How did Sunnybrook happen to grow?' one of the children 
asked. 

"We shall see how that happened. When Colonel Sterrett 
died about sixty-three years ago, his property was left to his son, 
John Sterrett. He did not wish to keep so much land, and there 
were people who wished to buy, so he divided his land into 
'smaller farms and sold them. Mr. Hall and Mr. John Brown 
were two of the purchasers. Mr. Hall built Mr. Phillips' house, 
and the little house in Mr. Wolfe's yard was built by Mr. Brown. 

"While the land on the east side of the Old York road was 
being built up, the land on the other side was also. Two of the 
first houses built on that side were Mr. Meisner's house and Mrs. 
Davis'. 

A great deal of the Britton estate was sold to the Curtis and 
Piersol families. The Britton mansion which is at least a hun- 
dred years old is now occupied by Mr. John Piersol. "The first 
buyers of parts of the large estates sold some of their land. In 
this way more houses were built and Sunnybrook conunuea to 
grow. 

"In i860 the people desired a schoolhouse better and nearer 
than the old log one that the children attended. It still stands on 
Mr. Shipley s place. The county bought a lot from Mr. Brown 
and built a one-room frame building. It was located at the 
lower end of the school lot near the cross-roads. The first teach- 



ONCE UPON A TJMK IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 1 59 

er was Air. Harrison Curtis, and he taught there for eight years. 
About twenty-two years ago the present school was built. The 
old one was bought by Mr. Curt.s and made into the house in 
which Mrs. Kelley lives. 

"When the first school was built, there was no chinxh, so 
the people of the Methodist denomination held their services in 
the school house for five or six years. Then, in 1865, a small 
church was built which was named Fairview. In 1903, twelve 
years ago, the present one was built." 

"I think Fairview would have been a pretty and suitable 
name for Sunnybrook, grandfather," one of the boys remarked. 

"Yes, it would have been," grandfather replied, "but there 
was a reason for naming the place Sunnybrook. In 1870, a post- 
office was established at Kings hotel, and on account of the 
little stream that runs nearby the postoffice was called Sunny- 
brook. That was the year in which I came to live here. Our 
mail was brought to the office twice a week, and later on, every 
day." 

"How much better it is to have the mail brought every 
morning by the mail carrier ! I'm glad I am living in these days," 
said one of the older boys. 

"The rural free delivery at Sunnybrook is eleven years old — 
just your age, John," said grandfather. "The postoffice, later 
on, was removed to the old store, which stood on the lower end 
of the store property. The first storekeeper was named L^den, 
and there have been quite a number of storekeepers since. Nine 
years ago last March the store burned down. Then Mr. Wesley 
enlarged a hall on the store property, into a store and dwelling. 
This hall had been us'jd for oyster suppers and entertainments. 
Now the hall over the blacksmith shop serves those purposes." 

"Grandfather, I have often wondered what that old shed on 
Mr. William Pocok's lot was used for. It must be very old." 

"That is a very old building. It was the first blacksmith 
shop at Sunnybrook and it was built fifty years ago. There was 
once a house near the shop, but it was destroyed by fire. Mr. 
Hilgartner had the present shop built nine years ago. 

"The same year in which the new school house was built. 
Dr. Percy Smith had the first doctor's house and office built. Dr. 
Smith sold to Dr. Dugdalc. Later the late Dr. Josiah Payne 
came." 



]60 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"We hope Sunnybrook may continue to grow, so that when 
you become its old folks you will tell a greater story.' 

Mary Evans. 
NEWMARKET. 
1806. 

New Market, or Maryland Line Postoffice, is the village 
"farthest north" in Baltimore County, being only a few hundred 
yards from the Pennsylvania border. It is thirty miles from 
Balt'more and is reached by the Northern Central Railroad. An 
old hotel was erected here in 1806, just after the York turn- 
pike was completed, and uKiny have been tiie travelers between 
York and Baltimore who have stopped here. The oldest house 
in the village was built a year or two earlier by John Walker. 
Two churches, a public school, the postofifice in the general store, 
are the public buildings. The Rutledge family date back many 
generat'ons in the vicinity of New Market. Thomas Rutledge 
was born in Baltimore County in 1759, and was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. 

MASON AND DIXON's LINE. 

Frank was a little boy who had lived in Baltimore all his 
life. Once in a while he went to the country with his mother or 
grandmother to spend the summer hol'day. Summer had come 
again, and with it F"rank's ninth birthday, and the promised visit 
tf> the country. 

This summer grandmother had chosen to go to New Market 
on the Northern Central, a ride of an hour or a little more from 
Baltimore. The place was new to Frank, and he was quite sure 
there was little to interest h-m in so small a town. It was their 
first day, and a very discontented little lad stood digging his toe 
in the soft earth along the old-fashioned porch where grandma 
sat. 

"Well, what is the matter, Frank?" asked grandma. 

"Don't like it here. There is nothnig to sec, nothing to do, ' 
grumbled the lad of nine. 

"Wait and see," said grandma. 

"You know I belong to a history club, grandma, and I prom- 
ised to bring back something worth telling in the fall. Each boy 
and girl in the club is expected to bring back a good story about 
the place they visit. A history story, too, grandma." 

Grandma smded as she thought of her nine year old grand- 
son, a member of a history club. With a merry twinkle in her 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY l6l 

eyes, she said, "More days are coming after this one. Give your- 
self time. Don't be so impatient. But how far have you gone 
today? How many questions have you asked? llow many? 
Not one, my son, I fear. A true member of a history club 
does not begin by bemoaning his fate, but by poking about in 
every lane and hedgerow. It may prove a needle in a haystack 
here in this spot, but I believe you will find that even New Mar- 
ket has something for you, my little historian. Take a walk in 
the village and keep your eyes and ears open. 

Just then Cousin Nell appeared and invited Frank to walk 
to the postoffice with her. 

"On the way,' said grandma, "show Frank the stone with 
M on one side and P on the other, and if you have time take 
him over into Pennsylvania. He is looking for signs of other 
days and times. Show him all that New Market can show of a 
past." 

Down the street they went, Frank happy now that he had 
a compan'on. 

Upon his return he plied grandma with questions, "Grandma, 
I didn't see any State line. Where was it? Nell said it was 
there, and I thought I should surely walk over something when 
1 went into another State. I couldn't see any difference when 
Cousin Nell said, 'Now we are in Pennsylvania.' ' 

"The State line is an imaginary line separating the states, 
but Maryland and Pennsylvania have something more than just 
an imaginary line on the north to mark the boundary," answered 
his grandmother. 

"What," asked Frank, "the stones marked M and P?'' 

"1 th-'nk you will have something to tell your history club 
when you return from this litile village farthest north in Balti- 
more County ; something about the Mason and Dixon's Line. 
Here we are on the very border of this famous line." 

"Famous? Tell me about it,' and Frank was all attention. 

"A long time ago when Pennsylvania and Maryland were 
first settled, grants of land were given freely by K'ng Charles, 
then king of England. You know the tract called Maryland was 
given to Lord Baltimore, and a similar one was given to William 
Penn. afterwards called Pennsylvania. At first no one cared in 
the least aboiU the boundary between the tracts, but as the coun- 
try became more thickly settled trouble arose among the people 
near the border. Each (Mie claimed trees and land of tiie other. 



l62 KEAL STORIES FROM IJAI/riMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Michael Cresap, an early pioneer, was one of the fighters for the 
Marylanders. Disturbances went on until there seemed no other 
way to settle the constant disputes among neighbors except to 
have the land surveyed. 

Two men, named Mason and Dixon, were sent out to survey 
t!-!e land and make a line to separate the two States. This would 
help the people on the border to know whether the valuable 
trees and the game of the forest belonged to Maryland or Penn- 
sylvania. They began where the waters of the ocean touched 
the Eastern Shore, and worked in a straight line westward, 
placing at the end of every mile a stone to mark the route. On 
the Maryland side was marked an M, on the other they carved a 
P. One of these stones you saw this afternoon, for New Market 
is not more than a quarter of a mile from the border, or the 
Mason and D'xon's line. 

"So," said Frank smiling, "I have crossed the Mason and 
Dixon's line ; I have traveled on foot into Pennsylvania ; and here 
I am again in Maryland, my Maryland." 

"Yes, and you have learned why it is called Mason and 
Dixon." 

"Anything more, grandma?" 

"You have heard us talk about the Civil War, when the 
slaves were set free?" 

"Yes, Miss Jones told us about this on Lincoln's birthday. 
I remember, and we have been told parts of Uncle Tom's Cabin. 
Then I saw it in the movies, too.' 

"Very well," said grandmother. "Pennsylvania was a free 
State as were all the Northern States, while all the States South 
were slave states, though Maryland was called neutral, and the 
Mason and Dixon line was the dividing line durhig the war. All 
States south of the Mason and Dixon line were called southern 
and slave States and all north were termed free States. A great 
many people in Maryland sympathized with the North, a great 
many favored the South. Many slaves escaped to the north 
through Maryland, and many Northern soldiers passed through 
here to the South. The house next door was one time used for 
1. hotel, as you know. Often the guards posted along the North- 
ern Central Road came here for food and rest. You can imagine 
the lively war talk at times as they sat around the hotel steps, for 
each side thought his cause just and right. 

"Pd like to go over there some dav. mav I? ' 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 163 

"Of course, tomorrow, if you like. Some time soon I hope 
Uncle Will may take us to another interesting place, a tavern, as 
it was called in the old days. This is 'The Ball,' on the pike 
about two miles from New Market, where it is said that Lafay- 
ette stopped on his way from Philadelphia to Baltimore. Some 
day you will learn why we are glad to remember this Frenchman, 
v/ho was a good friend to all the colonists in the great war that 
made us all Americans." 

'"Grandma, I have changed my mind about Nev/ Market. I 
couldn't have come to a better place for a story thon this. To- 
morrow " 

Just then Cousiin Nell, who had stolen in quietly and sat 
listening to the conversation, interrupted by saying, "How would 
yuo like to take some snapshots of the historic spots tomorrow? 
You know a picture talks almost better than words, though not 
better than grandmother here, our real historian.' 

He put his hand confidingly in hers saying, "I'd like that bet- 
ter than anything,'' and to grandma, he whispered, "do you think 
I am a real historian, too?" Isabel Davidson. 

CATONSVILLE. 

EARLY HISTORY — 17/0. 

Catonsville possesses no colonial history. The site of the 
village, previous to the Revolut'onary War, was probably in- 
habited by the Susquehanna Indians, as relics of Indian life are 
occasionally discovered, and one can well believe that the Indians 
as well as the early inhabitants, found the Catonsville hills a 
happy hunting ground for deer and other game. The old grants 
of land made by Lord Baltimore along Hunting Ridge, Buckridge 
and Bear Thicket, were of such an extent that their original Ihnits 
are unknown. Large tracts of 2,000 acres and more were not 
unusual in those early t'mes. The frequent mention of Anne 
Arundel County in the old land grants indicate that many of the 
settlers came from across the river. 

The earliest settlements in this neighborhood were at j»ihnny 
Cake Town, which is along the route of the old National tuni]Mke, 
and along the shore of the Patapsco River. On these farms to- 
bacco was raised extensively, especially at Joiinny Caketown. and 
the old Rolling road at the western end of Catonsville is where 
the tobacco planters of "ye olden times"' rolled their hogsheads 
of the precious weed to the colonial seaport at Elkridgc. 



164 REAL STORIES FKOiM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

It was then possible for small sailing vessels to come up the 
Patapsco as far as Elkridge Landing, one of the oldest towns of 
Maryland and Baltimore s foremost rival. It was from this port 
that tobacco was shipped in great quantities. 

Catonsville includes a part of the land that was granted to 
the Baltimore Land Company, and which subsequently passed 
into the hands of that sturdy old revolutionary hero, Charles 
Carroll of CarroUton. In 1775, Richard Caton, a young English- 
man of good family, but poor, sought and won the hand of Mr. 
Carroll's daughter, Elizabeth. The Carrolls were devout Catho- 
lics, and Mr. Caton was a member of the Church of England, 
Mr. Carroll strenuously opposed the marriage ot his daughter 
to Mr. Caton, because he felt that because of different religious 
faiths, their marital happiness would be impaired. Miss Carroll 
refused to give up her lover, as love levels the barrier of re- 
ligious difference. Miss Carroll is described as one of the most 
fascinating women of her day, and George Washington is said 
to have considered her the most beautiful woman he had ever 
seen. Mr. Carroll called in his friend, Thomas Cockey Dye, and 
induced him to argvie the matter with his sixteen-year-old daugh- 
ter, but to no eft'ect. Mr. Dye informed Mr. Carroll of his 
daughter's intention, and the latter said, "go ask her who shall 
take him out if he gets into jail." She raised her hands with 
beaming countenance and answered : "These hands shall take 
him." Mr. Carroll resisted no longer. The marriage took place 
in 1786, and he gave the young couple a splendid estate, which 
embraced the present site of Catonsville. 

Upon it a home was built just above the present center of 
the town. It was a plain house of stucco, not particularly elab- 
orate, but the old mansion is said to have been imposing in its 
simplicity and was once the scene of royal splendor. They called 
it "Thunder Castle." Many famous men of the nation have been 
guests within its walls, Lafayette and General Washington both 
stoppinig here during visits to Baltimore. 

We are quite certain that at the time the Catons settled at 
Castle Thunder the Susquehanna Indians roamed the forest, only 
gradually being driven back from the shores by incoming settlers. 
One of the old houses near Catonsville, "Hilton," the summer 
home of Major A. R. H. Ramson, still bears some indication of 
defense against Indian hostilities. Surrounding the barnyard is a 
hi^h stone stockade. Both house and stockade are built on a 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 165 

command'ng and well protected eminence, reminding one of a 
medieval castle. 

Castle Thunder no longer remains, as the estate was bought 
in 1907 from the McTavish family by Ex-Senator Hubner, who 
tore down the old mansion and erected a modern cottage in its 
place. It is a pity, however, that nothing is left now to mark the 
home of one of the earliest settlers in the vicinity. Let us hope 
that a tablet bearing the name of Caton and Castle Thunder may 
be placed upon the present site. 

While Mr. Caton never promoted the building of Catons- 
ville, yet the village took the name of its largest land owner, and 
It has grown along calmly and quietly from that day to this with- 
out any concerted effort on the part of the villagers. What 
helped this suburban town to grow? Could it answer like Topsy, 
"I'se just growed." Perhaps. Yet some of the things which 
have helped to make the history of this great nation of ours are 
likewise wrapped up with our little town of Catonsville. The 
welfare of the nation depends upon the life of the small com- 
munity, and vice versa. Whatever affects the one aff'ects the 
other. 

The first settlements were made where land was richest and 
most productive, so here in this vicinity were the tobacco plan- 
tations bringing in wealth. Products raw and manufactured 
must be taken to a market, hence the roads and markets at the 
end of the route. This brought in the era of road building, and 
the National road, a gateway to the West affected our little vil- 
lage, as people could by means of the Frederick road travel to 
Frederick and thence to the West. This road did a great deal to- 
wards the development and growth of Catonsville. 

I am sure you are wondering how the old National road, 
which does not come near Baltimore or Catonsville, could have 
helped our little town to grow, but people passing by found the 
village a pleasant place in which to stop, and, stopp'ng for a day. 
stayed longer, some of them choosing it for a permanent home. 
Next came the era of canal building. I wish I had time to tell 
you of quiet travel upon the slow-going canal boats, but that will 
have to come at another time. Then came the era of railroads, 
the last and best of all. It is interesting for us all to know and 
of special interest to every boy and girl in Catonsville to remem- 
ber that the first steam engine in America ran through Catonsville 
on its wav from Baltimore to Ellicott Cilv. 



l66 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

JOHNNY CAKE. 

A name that makes you smile when you learn that it is the 
name of a neighborhood and the name of a road, and once upon 
a time the name of an inn. Johnny Cake makes you smile at 
almost anytime for it brings to mind some good meals you have 
made of it, I am sure. 

Smile at Johnny Cake all you wish ! Here's how Johnny 
Cake got its name, so tis said. 

About e'ghty years ago, Mr. James Lee kept a tavern on the 
road now called the Johnny Cake road. It was about one-half 
mile from the place where the Belmont School now stands. In 
those days all the region from Baltimore to Frederick was called 
by this funny name. This tavern was the favorite stopping place 
of travelers between the above named points. Here they would 
stop and rest their horses. This picture shows the old well where 
the travelers watered their horses. 

It is said that one of the ladies of long ago who served the 
teamsters and other travelers gave them delicious Johnny cake 
so often for breakfast that the fame of the inn spread throughout 
the countryside and they decided to name it Johnny Cake. I 
can think it almost named itself. Can't you hear them say, 
jokingly, "We'll stop at Johnny Cake," until Johnny Cake Town 
it came to be. 

For a long time the Belmont School was called Joh.nny Cake, 
but i^-elmont avenue passing down one side, it seemed just as ap- 
propriate to call it by this more euphonius but less interesting 
name. 

nancy's fancy. 

Nancy's Fancy ! What an interesting name ! I have been 
unable to find how the place on which an old stone house stands 
at the corner of Edmondson avenue aand Nunnery Lane, Catons- 
ville, came to be called Nancy's Fancy. We can almost guess it 
from the name, however. 

The old original stone house still stands on the side of the 
hill, a monument to the past. It contains six large rooms. Look 
closely and you will observe that every part of the house bears 
•.vitncss to the fact that there were no machines in those days. 
The woodwork, the nails, the use of wooden dovv^els all indicate 
that the work was done by hand. In many old houses of that day, 
time was spent in carving the wood work with pretty designs. 



ONCE UPON A TiMlv IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 167 

Though tnerc is none here we know that the building of this 
house took time. It did not go up in a night and has therefore 
stood the test of storm and age. 

On many of the old places we find the family burying ground, 
so here at Nancy's Fancy we may walk among the old tomb- 
stones, many of them sunken in the ground or turning gray with 
age. The oldest tombstone which we are able to discover is 
in memory of "Catherine Kroft, Died 1785, aged twenty-two 
years, eight months and eight days." The Kroft family must 
have been the first family in the village, or at least among the 
earliest. 

Data obtained by Catherine HaydEn, VII Grade, Catons- 
ville High School. 

EYNDHURST. 

(3n the east side of Rognel Heights, and facing Edmondson 
avenue, stands the stately mansion called Lyndhurst. This man- 
sion lays no claim to the colonial period, since it was built a 
short time before the outbreak of the Civil War, but it is of suf- 
ficient age to interest us. During the Civil War the mansion 
v.-as occupied by General Johnson, who was a general in this 
war. Later Lyndhurst fell into the hands of some people by the 
name of Bogue. At times the grand old house has stood tenant- 
less, surrounded by its spacious grounds and fine old trees. 

The trees about the mansion are of special interest. Two 
enormous box trees of which there are very few in this part of 
the country, grace the lawn. Many of the wonderful pine and 
spruce trees have been ruined by thoughtless people, who have 
nought Christmas trees even under the shadow of this fine old 
house. The vandals, for we might well call them so, finding the 
place vacant, cut the tops out of the stately pines and carried 
them away to grace their Christmas festivity. Nature has tried 
to heal the wound as best she could. 

Perhaps the most interesting spot outside the house itself 
and the grounds is the old spring house. All houses of that and 
earlier periods had a spring house in connection, so Lyndhurst 
was no exception. Here was the spring bul)bling up from the 
ground with its cool, refreshing stream and here was built the 
brick structure which we see today. Here the owners of Lynd- 
hurst kept the food and milk for daily use. Here, too, they 
came for drinking water as this was the only source of their 
supply. Can you not see the servants carrying the water up the 



l68 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

hill to the house? Or, just as the evening shadows fall, can 
you not hear the laughter of the young people as they trip lightly 
to the spring for a cooling drink? No doubt but they dipped it 
from the bubbling spring, "Nature's Fountain," with "Nature's 
cup,' a gourd dipper. 

Data obtained by MarGarET VordEnbErger, VII Grade, 
Catonsville High School. 

AN OLD gate house. 

This gate house is at the entrance to Mr. Bernard C. Baker's 
residence, about a mile from Catonsville. It is a bit unusual to 
find a gatehouse in connection with an American home, and this is 
what Mr. Baker himself says about it: 

"I am following an English custom, as all English places of 
importance are always provided with a gatehouse. In the olden 
days it was called a lodge. You recall in reading English fiction 
Itow often the old gatekeeper or the gatekeeper's daughter figured 
in the story. If a child were lost it was usually the gentle old 
man and his wife who kept the lodge who had her in safe keeping. 
The gatekeeper was usually one of the old retainers of the estate, 
and it has long been the custom for him to come out and salute 
the family whenever they enter the grounds. Even though the 
locked gate is no longer in evidence, the gatehouse and the. keeper 
still remain as evidence of former grandeur and the days when 
every man's castle was also his fortress. Many American homes 
both North and South are provided with gatehouses, largely for 
the purpose of adding beauty and picturesqueness to the land- 
scape. All are placed at the entrance to the driveway, as is mine, 
but I venture to say that not all would interest you as much as 
mine. At the very point where I wished to place the house grew 
a fine large oak tree. I looked upon this splendid tree as an old 
friend, and I could not have it displaced by a pile of stone and 
plaster, so what did I do? Why, I simply built around it, so 
there stand two sentinels at my gate — my old tree friend and the 
gatehouse." 

Bessie I. RcinJiold. 

SIGNS OF HISTORIC INTEREST ON GLEN's PROPERTY. 
CATONSVILLE. 

One day two young girls went out in search of some points 
of historic interest within the environs of Catonsville. Rolling 
Road, along which they tramped, was suggestive in name, at least, 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 169 

of the early colonial days, when tobacco was the chief commodity, 
but they were bound for the Glen property as their goal. 

They came to an old stone fence, which must have been built 
in the colonial period, and here was a stile. Here is a picture of 
the stile. 

It was built before the Civil War, but just how long before 
the girls did not find out. It probably was used by the slaves 
as they passed back and forth across the fields. 

Quite in keeping with the buildings of that day is the spring 
house of which you see the picture. All great houses were pro- 
vided with spring houses as the means for bringing water into the 
house as we do today was not known. 

Here, too, is a picture of a tenpin found in the old bowling 
alley on the Glen's property on Rolling road. 

CATONSVIELE — TODAY. 

As one views the country surrounding the town of Catons- 
ville one is impressed with the dchghtful scenery. To the east 
one sees the monuments, spires and domes of Baltimore outlined 
against the sky. 'i o the southwest, the blue waters of the Chesa- 
peake, dotted here and there with the white-winged messengers 
of commerce bearing products from the four corners of the 
earth. From some points, and there are high rolling hills from 
which one may look, one may occasionally see the dome of the 
State House at Annapolis. On every side there are beautiful 
groves, cultivated farms, rolling hills, silvery streams to enhance 
the charm of the landscape. 

Catonsville is a well known suburb of Baltimore, and as such 
has no marked industrial life. Most of its inhabitants are en- 
gaged in various pursuits in the city, so it may be said to be a 
town of suburban homes. 

The best known manufacturing plant is the pottery factory 
of Mr. George De Kalb. This factory was founded about the 
year 1871. The clay used is obtained in Baltimore County, about 
three m-les from Catonsville, at a clay bank known as the "White 
Ground." 

At this plant fiower pots arc made exclusively, finding a 
ready market in Baltimore and the surrounding country. 

Another industry which is not found directly in the town 
itself, but on the Frederick road leading to Catonsville. is the 
Hair Works of the Wilkens Company. Grocery, provision and 
confectionery stores are exceptionally good. There arc small 



jyO REAL STORirCS I'KOM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

drygoods stores and two g-ood druo- stores, as good as can be 
found anywhere. Now that the automobile has come the old 
inn and hotel service has been revived to meet the need of 
tourists. 

One of the greatest advantages of a suburban town is its 
excellent roads and its means of transportation. In one sense 
the history of a town is the story of its roads. Laid out along 
tlie streams and the Indian trails, even in the earliest days the 
paihs were trodden by those who came and went. Since that 
day one road after another has been added and maintained by 
the state, with an additional tax of ten per cent for their im- 
i.rovement from the people of the first district. Frederick road 
was established as the Frederick turnpike, running from Freder- 
ick to Baltimore. It has recently been macadamized as has also 
Edmondson avenue, the other main road leading to Baltimore. 
An electric line has been established upon each road, superseding 
a horse car line which, in its turn, superseded a steam road built 
in 1 86 1, which ran trains between Baltimore and Catonsville. 
It is now used only for freight trains. Before the days of steam 
the old stage coach made its daily and weekly rounds between 
Baltimore and Cumberland, bringing the mail into the village of 
Catonsville. Yovi will be surprised to learn that at first it was 
distributed at Ellicott City, then to surrounding points. Mrs. 
Smith's father was the first postmaster at Catonsville. That was 
in the days when there were about a dozen log houses scattered 
along the Frederick pike. Only one of those old houses is left — 
the old Schotta house. Now eight letter-carriers arc employed 
to deliver the mail. 

MODERN HOUSEKEEPING. 

In the days of long ago you would have found every one 
trudging from the springs to the house with water for family 
use, for water was not obtained in any other way, but now all 
that one needs to do is to turn on the spigot. Even the pumps 
have been discarded, though the driven well was a great im- 
l^rovement over the water at the spring. Spring water could 
never be excelled, to be sure, but the pump added convenience 
to the householder. The water supply of Catonsville comes from 
the Catonsville Water Company, which gets its water from the 
branches of the Patapsco. The supply is more than sufficient for 
the neds of the village, and West Baltimore is supplied from the 
same source. 



ONCK UPON A TJMt; IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I7I 

Excellent telephone and postal service are now to be found 
here. 

In a village Hke Catonsville, where most of the buildings are 
of wood, there is as much danger from fire as in larger cities. 
The police and fire protection are under the direction of the Com- 
missioners of Baltimore County, and both render good service. 
The fire department is one of the best, since here is located one 
of the best auto engines in the county. The police force — con- 
sisting of three patrolmen and one special officer — is large enough 
to take care of all miscreants. 

A health officer looks after the health of the community, his 
chief business being to check epidemics and see to the proper dis- 
posal of garbage. Catonsville has long been knovv^n as one of 
Baltimore's most beautiful suburbs. Only six miles from the city 
many have chosen this as their home ; others find the place a de- 
lightful summer residence. The beautiful homes and the ancient 
dignified estates that surround the village have made the place 
v/hat it is, for long before it was built the stately old houses 
stood in their groves of tall oaks and the residences which have 
been built since now enclose the village like the petals of a flower 
around its center. The actual village is not a very large place, 
but the homes and settlements that girdle it for two or three 
miles outward from the center give it a population of more 
than 5,000. 

To conserve the natural beauty of the town and its environs 
has become the ambition of the Woman's Civic League. It is 
their -purpose to retain all natural beauty, to remove anything 
that mars the landscape, to add shrubbery at points along the 
roadway, to help those who desire aid in planning attractive 
landscape gardening for their lawns, to mark historic spots and 
thus to keep alive the connection between the fast-rushing pres- 
ent and the more or less romantic past. 

As one rides about the town the homes of prominent resi- 
dents are pointed out. Among them Ex-United States Postmaster 
Gary, B. N. Baker, formerly of the Atlantic Transportation Co., 
who opened the coastwise trade, and Ex-Senator Ilubner. You 
have already been told of the residents of ancient days, for while 
the old home stands others have come to take their places. 

SCHOOLS. 
Catonsville has always been a noted educational center. St. 
Timothy's Hall for boys was founded by Rev La Burtus Van 



172 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Eokkelen, in 1845, being the first church military school in the 
United States. Though beginning w;th nothing, great success 
was achieved. Soon the buildings were enlarged to accommodate 
the large number of students, no less than 150. The pupils were 
organized as an infantry battalion and an artillery corps, for 
which the State provided the muskets and cannon and other 
equipment. 

When the C'vil War broke out in 1861 the school was most 
prosperous, but when the call to arms came most of the boys en- 
listed, taking the'r guns with them, which were soon put to the 
stern uses of real war. 

A few years later fire destroyed St. Timothy's Hall, but the 
old armory is still standing as a memorial of the past. Three 
years later the number of pupils had fallen off so considerably 
on account of the war that Rev. Bokkelen decided to turn to 
other means of earning a livel'hood. Just about this time Presi- 
dent Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a former 
pupil of the school, and this turned the attention of the United 
States military authorities to it, and General Lew Wallace, who 
was in command of the department, issued a strict order regu- 
lating the uniforms worn by the pupils of St. Timothy's Hall, 
then known as Catonsville Military Institute. A little later the 
school was taken over by the Misses Carter, of Carter's Bridge, 
\'a., as a girls' school, which, too, has almost world wide fame. 
G:rls from Maine to the Hawaiian Islands, and from Canada to 
Mexico have been educated here, enjoying the simple home life 
of the school. While St. Timothy s Hall was in its prime the 
Misses Gibson conducted a school for young ladies at Ingleside, 
which ranked in those days with the St. Timothy's of today. An- 
other well-known school is Mt. De Sales, conducted by the sisters 
of the Visitation Convent, opened in 1852. 

The old Ingleside School for Boys, conducted by Dr. Ebel- 
ing, where many noted Marylanders received their education, 
among them Isador Rayner, is worthy of much praise and honor- 
able ment'on. 

All this story of the schools of other days helps us to know 
that public schools were slow in development. At first the school 
was attached to the church — a church school — or if not that — 
directed by the minister of the parish. From this beginning grew 
the large and fashionable private schools for boys and girls, which 
flourished until after the war, and even until later days. 



once; upon a time in our town and vicinity 173 

Today the school around which the Hfe of the community 
centers is the Catonsville High School, ranking with the best in 
the State. It has not always stood where it does ioday. Here 
is a picture of the site of the old school. The school was moved 
from here to Winter avenue, and from thence to its present loca- 
tion, the building now being used for a colored school. 

In 1908 a new building was erected on Frederick road, on 
the site of the old blacksmith shop of "Uncle Jack Adams," the 
colored blacksmith of the town before the Civil War. The old 
stone buildiing, torn down to make way for the new br:ck struc- 
ture, had been built around the log shop of earlier times. 
Data obtained by M. Mulesivorth and Marjorie Hoffman. 

CHURCHES OF CATONSVILLE AND VICINITY. 

St. Timothy's. 

The history of any community is centered about the village 
church. One of the earliest churches in the community was St. 
Timothy's Episcopal Church, established in 1844. A few people 
of the neighborhood, among them Judge John Glenn, the Gibsons 
and John K. Smith and family, met at the home of Rev. G. F. 
Worthington and elected the first vestry. Here was held the 
first service also, w'th about twenty-five present. A New York 
architect designed the church edifice, Gothic in style, and the 
corner stone was laid in the autumn of 1844. Two additions 
have been made since that time and a rectory has been added. 
The ground, one acre, was given by Rev. Bokkelen, and the rest 
])Urciiased from Rev. Worthington, the blind preacher, makmg 
four acres in all. Standing as it does in a grove of handsome 
trees it is a place of unusual interest. 

The German Lutheran Church. 

Passing down Ingleside avenue, near the Old Frederick road, 
you will come upon a plain modest structure — the church home 
of the German Lutherans of this community. The plot of 
ground upon which it stands was jnnxhascd in 1849 for the sum 
of $300, this sum being advanced by Mr. Lurman, a prosperous 
merchant of Baltimore, and a s'mple church building was erected 
by the members of the congregation who contributed some money, 
their labor and needed material. This church was the outgrowth 
of the effort of the traveling preacher, Father 1 lever, who made 
missionary pilgrimages through Haltimore and Howard Counties. 
At first a church school was directed by the pastors, but like all 
other church schools it was abandoned and a German-English 



1/4 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

public school substituted in its place. Of the older school mas- 
ters, Rev. C. C. Ide is well remembered as a most excellent 
teacher of fifty years ago. Rev. George Ebcling is a pastor 
whose name is much beloved in the community. 

Grove Church : 

This was a period of great church activity. Churches sprang 
up in every commun'ty and so we find this little church building 
started in the summer of 1856, a few years later than in Catons- 
ville. The lot on which the church stands was given by Rev. 
Thomas Hand, grandfather of Rev. Philip Hand, who is at pres- 
ent a member of the Baltimore Conference. The little frame 
chapel was built in 1850-51, the forerunner of the present struc- 
ture, and stood back of the present building. Grove Church 
is on the Johnny Cake road and about two miles from Catons- 
ville, a real country church. On Sunday mornings you may see 
people wending their way to this little place of worship. In the 
olden days, some on foot, others in chaises and carryalls, and 
clumsier vehicles, but now only the carriage and automobile pass 
us on the road. As we sit in the pews the soft balmy air sweeps 
in at the window, occasionally rustling a page of a hymn book, 
but the stillness inside and out is broken only by the singing of 
the congregation and the words of the preacher. It is a quiet 
spot, a haven of rest, and the religious spirit touches one and all 
alike. 

Data obtained by Seventh Grade Children, Catonsville. 

ROLLING ROAD. 

Once upon a time there was, what do you think? It might 
have been a good fairy, an old witch, or a little boy or girl, a 
queer old man, a fine house, a big mountain, a sly fox, but it 
wasn t. Once upon a time there was a field of tobacco. 

There was not only one field, but many fields. L'ttle boys 
and girls played near them. While they played, all through the 
long summer, the tobacco grew higher and higher. By and by 
it was time to bring it in from the fields and dry it in the sheds. 
Then, when everything was ready, the leaves were put into hogs- 
heads. Hogsheads are great barrels, much larger than a flour 
barrel. It took many hogsheads to hold all the tobacco, and the 
children often watched them as they were rolled down the road. 
Some hogsheads had shafts on them, others had tongues arranged 
something like they are on wagons today. There was also a 
piece of iron fastened to each end of the barrel. Horses were 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I75 

hooked up lo them and as they pulled, the hogshead went rolling 
.\long the road. They kept on and on past the place where Bel- 
U'Ont School now stands, and still on farther. Finally they 
1 cached a place where the boats came in — Elkridge Landing we 
cull it now. The boats carried the tobacco away to be sold. 

All this happened when our grandmothers and grandfathers 
were little children, but it is worth remembering because that is 
how the Rolling road received its name. 

AN OLD-TIME WELL. 

On Johnny Cake road, about one-half mile from Belmont 
School, is an old, old well which is still in use. It looks entirely 
different from the ordinary pump w'th which everybody is fa- 
miliar. If we could see through the foliage of the tree on the 
right side of the photograph, we should find a handle or a crank. 
This handle is fastened to a roller to which a chain is also at- 
tached. As the handle is turned, the chain is wrapped around 
the handle or v'ce versa. In this way the water bucket is pulled 
up or let down into the well. Near the top of this comb-shaped 
shanty, the roller is held in place by suitable fixtures. Ordinarily 
a door closes the opening at the center of the picture. This well 
has been used for probably thirty years. 

Bessie G. Reinhold. 

THE HISTORY OF GRAY'S. 

1772. 

The history of this community begins with the coming of 
the Ellicotts. 

In 1772 the brothers, Joseph, Andrew and John Ellicott, pur- 
chased land and mill-sites on both sides of the Patapsco, four 
miles in extent, including all the water power within that dis- 
tance. 

These gentlemen were descended from an old and respectable 
family of Devonsh're, England. Tliey were the sous of Andrew 
Ellicott, who emigrated to Buck s County, Pennsylvania, in 1730. 

The first mill was completed in 1774, but was destroyed by 
fire in IcSoq. They conducted their business under the firm of 
Ellicott & Co. 

When they took possession of the land the whole valley was 
a wilderness covered with great trees, the growth of centuries ; 
oaks, h'ckory, maple, gum, ash, chestnut and others. Small game 
was plentiful and oti the open ground, grc.it herds of deer and 
fiocks of wild turkevs were met. 



1/6 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

The Ellicotts at once began to raise wheat on their lands. 
The people round about raised tobaccu and only enough wheat 
for their own consumption. To encourage the people to cultivate 
wheat the EHiocotts olTered fair prices for it and gradually in the 
end changed the whole farming system within reach. 

At their own expense, they opened a road for wagons from 
their mills to Baltimore, a distance of ten miles, and on its com- 
pletion laid out a road to Frederick Town, which united at Elli- 
cott's Mills with the'r road' to Baltimore. 

The last building erected in the village, before 1790, by 
Kllicott & Co., was their warehouse or storehouse, and was built 
directly opposite to the mills of triangular stone, from the granite 
quarries near them, and immediately on the route from Baltimore 
to Frederick ; the other biuldings were the work of Pennsyl 
vanians, but this warehouse was the work of Maryland masons, 
the Spicers, of Harford county. 

This building is still standing and externally remains un- 
changed, but the interior has been converted into a work shop for 
the present mill. 

This store and warehouse was built for the accommodation 
of a variety of articles, with apartments ordered to suit them, and 
was considered at that day to be commodious and complete. 
Articles of fine quality were kept on the shelves, behind sashes of 
glass, and in drawers to protect them from dust. The whole es- 
tablishment was liberally patronized because of the care taken in 
the selection of goods. A great change had then taken place in 
the conditions of the planters in the vicinity, who, instead of cul- 
tivating tobacco, and awaiting the slow returns of the European 
.gents, now raised wheat and corn, for which they found a mar- 
! ' t near them ; such goods also as they had been accustomed to 
order themselves from London, they could purchase from the 
store of Ell'cott & Co. at a fair rate of prices. The goods were 
selected with care by agents who visited New York and Phila- 
delphia for the purpose, from whence they were shipped. By 
such means, silks, satins and brocades ; India china dinner, and 
tea sets, mirrors and glass ware, mathemat'cal instruments, iron 
mongery and groceries, including liquors and wines, were always 
on sale. 

yVfter the Independence of the United States was secured, 
Ellicott & Co. imported more extensively, and sometimes sent 
directly to London for goods by an agent, Samuel Godfrey, an 
Englishman by birth, who afterwards became a partner in the 
store. 



oxer: UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 177 

The postoffice was also opened in one part of this store. 

The turnpike from Baltimore to Frederick was commenced 
in 1805. 

Ellxott's Mills was a small village until 1794, and consisted 
only of the residence of the proprietors of the estate, and tene- 
ments for the clerks, millers, coopers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, 
millwrights of the establishment and men who were day laborers. 

In 1 794 Ellicott & Co. disposed of a mill site immediately 
i.=elow them on the Patapsco, to Thomas Mendenhall, of Phila- 
delphia, who built a paper mill. 

The Methodists held meetings for relig'ous worship, and 
also prayer meetings in one oi the chambers of the paper mill for 
many years. 

The site was later sold, and purchased by Edward Gray, and 
was called Gray's cotton manufactory. 

From the Life of John P. Kennedy. 

Edward Gray was born in the parish of Bowera, near Lon- 
donderry, Ireland, July 16, 1776. His mother came of an old 
Welsh stock — the Edwards family — his father of Irish descent. 

When a mere lad Edward Gray became interested in the 
American war. He felt a great sympathy for the colonists and 
knew the heroes by heart. He came to America and went to 
Philadelphia. 

In 1812 friends of Edward Gray formed a manufacturing 
company of which Gray was made the agent. He moved to 
Maryland with his family, his wife and two daughters, and built 
a mill on the Patapsco River, about ten miles from Baltimore. 
The company's mill was destroyed by fire, but Edward Gray, by 
his own energy and good judgment, succeeded in rebuilding it 
in 1820 on a larger scale and on his own account. After the 
tarifif of 1823 the mill became remunerative and enjoyed tlie ex- 
ceptional reputation for the manufacture of cotton duck, for 
which there was constant demand. 

Air. Gray improved his homestead, in the immt^diate vicinity 
of the mill, and yet secluded and rural enough to charm the eyes 
and enlist the j^encils of English tourists who found snmetliing 
in the scene at once i)icturesque and homelike. In the palmy 
days of the township, before the flood and fire had marred its 
prosperity, Mr. Gray might have been regarded as a kind of lord 
of the manor, not as suggesting the old trad'tional authoritv, 
but from his beneficient influence, his encouragement of schools 



1/8 RKAL STORiiiS From Baltimore county history 

cuid churchftS; his kindnes? to the sick and poor, his constant hos- 
pitality and the number of his employes. 

His house was then surrounded by fine shrubbery and trees ; 
its architecture and material were composite, originally built in 
the old post frame style, parts were added of granite, it was 
embosomed in summer, in foliage ; nothing can exceed the radiant 
be.Tuty of the autumn tinted woods which clothed the adjacent 
hillsides at that season, and even in winter, when the verdure of 
tl e eve'-greens contrast with the snow-clad landscape. 

The house was added to by John P. Kennedy, a prominent 
lawyer and statesman, who married Mr. Gray's daughter Eliza- 
beth, in 1829. 

The Grays were visited by Washington Irving in 1854. 

The stone building since 1899, used as the sciiool, was the 
store, which supplied the mill hands with articles of tinware, all 
kinds of calicoes, strawbonnets, coftee and cheese. 

Edward Gray died in 1856. His daughter, Martha Gray, 
(hen carried on the manufacturing with the aid of Hugh Bone. 
In 1888 Miss Gray closed the factory and it was never again 
operated for cotton manufacture. Some years later it was pur- 
chased by Mr. John Bone. He held it for a number of years and 
then sold it to the Patapsco Electric Company, who use it as a 
power plant and supplied EHicott City and vicinity with elec- 
tricity. About three years ago the Consolidated Gas and Electric 
Light and Power Company purchased it. The factory is no 
longer used, but the old dwellings next to it are used as a trans- 
form station. 

Extract from a letter of J. P. Kennedy to E. L. Stanley, 
July 3, 1865 : 

'T-Iere where 1 live on the Patapsco, ten miles from Balti- 
more and near the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, troops are pass- 
ing in trains almost every hour, and as they see my flag, which 
hangs from the library, I get the cheers of a regiment at a time. 
100,000 have gone by, hurrahing, shouting, sometimes dancing on 
the tops of cars." 

In the summer of 1868 a terrible freshet, unequalled in its 
sudden erruption and devastating course, burst over the valley, 
swept away massive stone walls, bridges and dwellings and 
changed the whole aspect of the scene. As many as forty-two 
persons lost their lives at this time. In consequence of a bend 
in the river Mr. Gray's mill escaped destruction, as far as the 



ONCE UPON A TlMIv IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I79 

edifice was concerned, but its machinery and surroundings were 
submerged and ruined and more than half of the dwelhng houses 
and all the choice trees were carried off, leaving a debris of 
stones and slime where once the garden bloomed. A more strik- 
ing and painful contrast cannot be imagined than that presented 
by photographs of the scenery before and after the flood. 

WASHINGTON IRVING A VISITOR. 

Mr. Irving to Mrs. Kennedy : 

"I envy K. that job of building that tower, if he has half 
the relish for castle build'ng that I have — air castles or any other. 
1 should like nothing better than to have plenty of money to 
squander on stone and mortar and to build chateaus along the 
Patapsco with the stone that abounds there ; but I would first 
blow up the cotton mills — your father's among the number), 
and make picturesque ruins of them ; and I would utterly destroy 
that railroad and all the cotton lords should live in baronial 
castles on the cliff ; and the cotton spinners should be virtuous 
peasantry of both sexes, in silk skirts and small clothes and straw 
bats with long ribbons and should do nothing but sing songs and 
choruses and dance on the margin of the river." 

To a niece while at Patapsco : 

"The evening passed delightfully ; we sat out in the moon- 
light on the piazza of the Patapsco, after which I went to bed, 
had a sweet night's sleep and dreamt I was in Mahomet s Para- 
dise." 

In the same letter mentioned on page 5, Mr. Kennedy said 
to Hon. E. L. Stanley, "You will find us pleasantly entrenched 
in our cottage close down on the banks of Patapsco, in one of the 
most romantic and beautiful nook in the world. You shall have 
all manner of rural felicities, among which I enumerate the war 
of waters and spindles, rich cream, ham and chicken, much talk, 
plenty of books, backgammon, etc. The railroad is onlv distant 
by I'-e si)an of our bridge; our country store is within a hundred 
.ind fifty yards, where you will find a most choice assortment of 
fashionable tinware, nests of buckets, and all kinds of calicoes, 
straw bonnets, coffee and cheese. 

"The turnpike road g'ves a delightful publicity to this maga- 
zine of fashion, and affords an oi)portunity twice a day to observe 
that striking wonder of civilization, the omnibus, surcharged, in- 
side and out. with the elite of our village. My li1)rary. which I 
shall put entirely at your dispersal, is full of miracles of art in a 



iSo REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

choice collection of photographs, stereoscopes, portraits and ink- 
stands. It has two windows, each opening on a balcony, one of 
which looks towards the mill dam through pendant willows, glor- 
ious to behold, the other at the bridge, which is the most romantic 
and picturesque of pontificals." 

Description of Gray's property after the flood by J. P. Ken- 
nedy : 

"Here we witnessed the terrible desolation of the great flood 
of last July. Every tree and street, the conservatory, the fences, 
the outbuildings are all swept away. A great part of the dwell- 
ing house is in ruins, a deposit of three or four feet of white 
sand spread over the grass plots ; quantities of stone brought 
down the river from the mills destroyed above, strewed over this 
deposit, the porches carried away, my library entirely taken off, 
leaving no vestige of books, prints, busts and other articles with 
which it was furnished, the factory shockingly injured, requiring 
some $50,000 worth of repairs. Mr. Bowen's house is lifted up 
from its foundation and borne bodily away upon the floods. 

"The devastation has so completely altered the aspect of the 
place that I should not know it.' 

The associat'ons became too painful for the survivors of 
that happy household to resume their abode in that changed and, 
to their hearts, desolate home. The mill was repaired at great 
expense and the remaining section of the house renovated and 
occupid by their agent. Carrie Nccpier. 

THE STORY OF A PIONEER FLOUR MILL. 

PATAPSCO FLOURING MILLS. 
It is hard for us to imagine a t'me when gram was crushed 
by hand at home on the farm in a stone mortar and pestle ; stiil 
harder for us to think of the little hand-mills which served their 
day. There was a time in the history of Maryland when the 
farmer went to mill just as they did in any pioneer community. 
You can picture the grain sack thrown across the back of a horse, 
the darkey astride and the ride through the woods along the old 
Indian trail to the nearest mill. You would expect to find a mill 
in the region of running water as the Patapsco, for these are the 
days of waterpower, so on the Patapsco, which is not so far 
away, you find the or'ginal mill of the community, located at 
Ellicott City. The Patapsco Flouring Mills of the C. A. Gam- 
brill Manufacturing Company possess much historic interest. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY l8l 

The old original mill, still standing, might be termed the birth- 
place of the flouring trade in America. It is the first mdl that 
tried to expand its trade beyond its local hmits. Over one hun- 
dred years ago it has been found recorded that a Boston firm re- 
ceived a cargo of the Patapsco brand of flour, which brand is now- 
one hundred and twenty years of age. The old bills of lading, 
records of shipment, will reveal that cargoes of Patapsco flour 
sailed for foreign ports, so these mills were well known. I 
haven't any doubt but that some of our httle English cousins ate 
biscuits made from some of this flour ground at our very doors. 

Ellicott City was founded by the Ellicotts, a sturdy family of 
Quakers, who came down from Pennsylvania in 1772, and settled 
on the banks of the Patapsco when that river was a nuich larger 
river than now. You may remember that I told you that rivers 
grow old and change in appearance just as our grandmothers and 
grandfathers do. The Patapsco has been growing old for the 
last hundred years. Some day you will learn why it has changed. 
But in the days of the Ellicotts it was a swift, rushing river just 
suited to turning mill wheels. So these sturdy Quakers chopped 
down trees, laid out farms, and grain and fruit flourished. Soon 
a mill was begun, as they felt the need of changing the golden 
grain into flour products which they produced. 'J'heir flour was 
known as the Patapsco brand, and they soon found a market far 
and near. The mills were prosperous and remained in the hands 
of the Ellicotts until 1833, when they were purchased by Charles 
Carroll, grandson of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the famous 
signer of the Declaration of Indepetidence. Later the C. A. 
Gambrill Company purchased them from the Carrolls. Since 
that time the three large m-Us have been equipped with every 
modern device. A visit to the mills would prove of unusual in- 
terest, for there we could see how the golden grain is changed 
into the flour which goes to make our daily bread. But that is 
another story and must be left to another time. You can get 
some idea of its output when you know that 2200 barrels are 
turned out each day. 

Isabel Davidson — Dcliih OcUa, Hillsdale. 
OUR MILL TOWNS. 

\Vc have just had an account of the growth of Ellicott Mills, 
now Ellicott City in Floward Crninty This section of the county 
stems devoted to mills of various kinds. An autoiuobile ride 
from Catonsv'.lle over a most attractive route down Thistle Lane, 



l82 REAL STOKlES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

arched with oaks, through a glen of surpassing beauty, brings us 
to the old manufacturing town of Thistle, now called Ilchester, 
where a mill for making sheeting, later used for making silk and 
cotton goods, and now cotton duck only, was built in 1801. Five 
old houses built at the same time still stand, and upon entering 
we again find the old cranes of former days still swinging in the 
great fireplaces. Mr. Patterson, a resident of Ilchester, in- 
vented the looms used at the mills, and some claim that he was 
the inventor of the first coiton loom to be used in the United 
States. Riding along the Patapsco, enjoying the beautiful scenery, 
we touch Ellicott City, with its spleadid flour manufacturing 
plant, then come upon Oella, another little hamlet, devoted en- 
tirely to the manufacture of silk in former days, now making 
only cotton duck. Here, too, we find quaint old houses perched 
upon the hillside, the simple homes of the millworkers. Oella is 
but a short walk from Ellicott City, so there is little need for the 
usual small shops and stores found in the village hamlet. The 
public school is here, which serves as a community center, and 
there is a church, but the postoffice is at EH'cott City. 

Not so far away is the town of Hillsdale, once upon a time 
known as Dickeyville, and before that Wetheredville. One writes 
of the town as follows: Adapted, Leila Cairnes. 

HISTORY OF HILLSDALE. 

1835- 

The little manufacturing town of Hillsdale is situated on 
Gwynn's Falls, west of the city of Balt'niore, Md., five miles 
from the City Hall. 

The village proper contains about seven hundred inhabitants. 
Two large mills — one cotton and the other woolen ; three churches 
— the M. E., a stone structure, built in 1849; the Dickey Memor- 
ial Presbyterian, erected in 1885, and St. Lawrence Catholic 
Chapel, inst'tuted in 1914. A large public school building, erected 
in 1902, and the Kernan Hospital for crippled children, estab- 
lished in 191 1. 

The village was founded about 1835, by a Mr. Tschendy, 
who, with his partner, one James Gary, erected a few houses and 
a mill for the manufacture of paper. About the year 1850 the 
property was purchased by John Wethered and brother, from 
whom the village took the name of Wetheredville. They en- 
larged the mills and established the manufacture of fine cloth. 



ONCU UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 183 

The Wcthcreds were succeeded by the late WiUiam J. 
Dickey, who in the late sixties rented the mills and established 
the manufacture of a coarser grade of cloth, known as Dickey's 
Kerseys. After running the mill for a few years, Mr. Dickey 
formed a company, purchased the property, enlarged the mills, 
built a large number of dwellings and ran the business very 
successfully until the fme of his death, which occurred in 1897. 
The business was continued by his heirs until the property was 
purchased by the present owner, a New York firm. At the 
present time the mills are putting out cotton and woolen goods. 

A few years after the death of Mr. Dickey the name of the 
town was changed to "Dickeyville," which name it bore until iQii, 
since which time it has borne the very appropriate name of "Hills- 
dale.' 

The story of Alberton on the Patapsco is much the same, and 
all the little children of Quaker Hill School should be familiar 
v/ith its history as well as with the principal industry. 

At Rockland, too, there once flourished a thriving calico 
print works, and in the vicinity were the Tasker Iron Works, 
both of which have since passed out of existence. 

Baltimore County has a number of factories and mills situ- 
ated along its water ways. To the ones above named you will 
learn further about the cotton duck mills at Mt. Washington, the 
steel works at Sparrows Point, the Chrome works at Bare Hills, 
row no longer in existence; the curled hair and bristle works on 
Frederick road and others. Emma C. Myers. 

ST. DENIS AND RELAY. 
1733—^^28 

In telling the story of these towns on the Pjaltiniore and 
Ohio we must begin with Elkr'dge Landing. Scharff says : 

"The historic interest centers at Elkridge Landing, wiiich is 
in Howard County, just across the Patapsco. Vessels once came 
up the river to Elkridge to load tobacco for England, and it was 
the shipp'ng port for all this section of the county. When the 
Ellcotts, about 1730, resolved to erect flour mills on the Patapsco, 
all their machinery came by way of Elkridge Landing and was 
taken overland to Ellicott's Mills. 

"A town ex'sted here in 1733 and was called Jamestown, a 
name which was soon changed to the ]iresent one. At some 
date prior to the Revolution, probably about 1750, the General 



184 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Assembly of Maryland met at Elkridge Landing. On August 
-9' ^7^Sy the patriots of the town hanged in effigy the British 
stamp distributor. Between 1745 and the Revolution races were 
held and fox hunting was the common sport of the gentry. On 
April 14, 1781, Lafayette crossed the Patapsco at this point with 
his army on the way to Yorktown. One boat was overloaded 
and nine soldiers were drowned.' 

Here is enough history to make an interesting story to tell 
to the children of Baltimore county, for was not Elkridge the 
great market long before Baltimore city was dreamed of ? Cer- 
tainly. More than one hundred and fifty years ago Maryland 
was a great tobacco-growing State, and England was the market 
for the "sot-weed" of the colonies. As there were no roads at 
that time, and no heavy wagons or carts strong enough to haul 
one or more hogsheads of tobacco to market, others means had 
to be devised. "Necessity is the mother of invention,' they say. 
The growers then adopted this method of transporting the to- 
bacco : A stout pole was passed through the center of the hogs- 
head, allowing the pole to project about three feet at each end, 
making a kind of rolling pin, which could be easily rolled to the 
wharf, by men, if need be. A pa-r of horses or oxen were often 
used, and somet'mes it is told, one might see a cow used as a 
beast of burden. 

Along the road rolled these immense hogsheads. It was 
often hard work to climb the hills, and to them the old adage 
proved true for the "shortest road was the longest way round,"' 
and the crooked, winding roads of the present day are the result. 

What is now called Catonsville avenue was once termed Roll- 
ing road, because tobacco planters from the upper Howard and 
Baltimore Counties and also from Carroll and Frederick, rolled 
their hogsheads of tobacco to the wharf for sh'pment. The low 
field along the river opposite the end of Catonsville avenue was 
once a part of the river bed, and one wharf was near here. A 
little northwest of the wharf was a boat yard, in which it was 
said that some of the best boats that traded along the coast at 
that time were built. 

WASHINGTON, A ROAD MAKER. 

The upper part of the road which comes down along the 
river on the Baltimore County s'de, was made by George Wash- 
ington during the war of Independence. At that time there were 
no railroads to transport troops and supplies ; they had to be 



ONCE UPON A time; in our town and vicinity 105 

moved along dirt roads. In order to cut off the long route for 
troops from down the Frederick road to Rolling road and then 
to Washington road, he opened up a new one, which was called 
the Gun road. This new road was in use until the b g freshet 
in 1868, when a good part of it at and below Ilchester was 
washed away. The Orange Grove Flour Mill was built over this 
road, a large archway being made for it in the first part of the 
mill built at that time. After the destruction of the road, addi- 
tions, were built to the mill which closed up the arch. 

THE RELAY AND THE RAILROAD. 

The real story of St. Denis and Relay is wrapped up with 
the story of a railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio. 

When the Baltimore and Oh'o Railroad was commenced in 
1828, its first depot was on Pratt Street, near Charles. The cars, 
then pulled by horses, went out Pratt Street to Mt. Clare, where 
another depot was established. The depot and terminus was 
about where the Sandman's stables now are ; later on the tracks 
were extended to Ellicott's Mills, requiring a second team of 
horses for the additional distance. This change of horses, called 
a relay, was made at the terminal of the first section. Th's term 
at first applied to the change of horses, was used in speaking of 
the terminal and also of the surrounding neighboi^iood, continu- 
ing to this day. 

"tom thumb." 

The engine called "Tom Thumb ' was the first steam rail- 
road engine in America. It passed Relay on August 28th, 1830, 
on a trip to the mills now EUicott City. This is the story: "On 
the return trip a race was started between a horsecar and an 
engine. The snort of the one and puff of the other kept tmie 
and tune. At first the gray horse had the best of it, for his steam 
could be appl'ed to the best advantage on the instant, while the 
engine had to wait until the rotation of the wheels set the blower 
to work ; the horse was perhaps a quarter mile ahead, when the 
safety valve of the engine lifted and a tliin blue vapor issuing 
from it showed an excess of steam. The blower whistled and 
the steam blew off in vaporing clouds ; the pace increased and 
the passengers shouted, the eng'ne gained on the horse. Soon 
it passed him, the whip was plied, the race was neck and neck, 
nose to nose, then the engine passed the horse and a great hurrah 
hailed the victory. Hut it was not repeated, for just at this time, 
when the gray's master was about giving up, the band driving 



1 86 REM, STORIKS FROM UALTIMORR COUNTY HISTORY 

the pulley which drove the blower, spread from the drum, the 
safety valve ceased to scream and the eng:ne for want of breath 
began to wheeze and pant. In vain Mr. Cooper, who was his own 
engineer and fireman, lacerated his hands in attempting to replace 
the band upon the wheel. In vain he tried to urge the fire with 
light wood. The horse gained on the engine and passed it, and 
although the band was presently replaced and steam again did its 
best, the horse was too far ahead to be overtaken, and came in 
the winner of the race. But the real victory was with Mr. 
Cooper, notwithstanding." 

There were a number of accidents at the Relay crossing. 
ThrQ danger was finally lessened by opening a cut through the 
]-ocks, where the main line now runs ; this was opened in t852-"53, 
leaving a mound of rocks between the two tracks. The rocks 
were taken away in the latter part of the '6o's and used in mak- 
ing the cut-off between Carroll switch and West Baltimore, pre- 
vious to that all trains came around by Mt. Clare Junction. 

After the mound of rock was taken away the Viaduct Hotel 
was built near the spot. This house was furnished and opened 
for a mealing station for the traveling publx, and not for the 
purpose of an ordinary hotel. There were rooms to accommo- 
date persons who might be tired out or sick from traveling. Such 
persons could stop over and recuperate for a day or two. The 
average mealing station, prev'ous to that time, was considered by 
travelers as a joke; the food being either served too hot to eat or 
else delayed so long that the time allowed for the stop had al- 
most expired before it was brought to the table. To remedy 
this the Baltimore and Ohio determined to have their own meal- 
ing stations and to see that the'r patrons got plenty of good food 
and plenty of time to eat it. and in order to keep the diners from 
being uneasy and afraid that their train would leave them, the 
conductor was served his meal at a table in full view of all in the 
dining-room, he not leaving the room until the twenty or twenty- 
five m'inutes allowed for the stop was up. Besides the dining- 
room there was a lunch room, where those who did not want a 
full meal could be satisfied. I have often heard people say that 
they would not think of passing the Relay without at least getting 
a cup of coft'ee. The introduction of dining cars d'd away with 
the use of the hotel as a mealing place. 

HOW ST. DENIS W^AS NAMED. 

During the early days of the railroad, much of the land now 
named Relay and St. Denis was owned by a certain Denis A. 



ONCE UPON A TIMR IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 187 

Smith, once treasurer of this State. He was quite a politician 
in his time, and entertained on an extensive scale. The stonb 
house which stands at the junction of what is now Sutton avenue 
and Washington road was built by h-m. On account of some 
of his high doings there he was nicknamed St. Denis by his as- 
sociates. He was instrumental in having a postoffice established 
in the village, and it was given his nickname, which is still re- 
tained. This Dennis A. Smith failed and the property, nearly 
four hundred acres, was purchased by Samuel Sutton, who, with 
his family, moved there. The land then was very low and 
swampy, and had been called Chile Valley before receiving the 
name of St. Denis. Mr. Sutton was a great stock raiser and 
kept imported stock. He drained the swampy land and made it 
into fine pastures. '^ 

EARLY INDUSTRIES. 

The Relay must at one time have been a sort of whiskey 
center. There were two distilleries here, one in the valley which 
runs up back of Miss Lena Faith's property, the other where the 
Viaduct factory now stands. The Hockley flour mills were just 
above the stone bridge near the race on the Howard County 
side; it was burned down in the early fifties. A person standing 
on the east side of the bridge over the river and looking down 
about yards from the bridge on the Howard County side can see 
the two stone walls of the tail race from the mill. After the 
destruction of the mill, the owner secured the old distillery and 
converted it into a flour mill, which was run as such until bought 
by the Viaduct Company ; this mill at one time did a large busi- 
ness in ])arching corn for the foreign trade. They had a largp 
oven built for the purpose. It was the belief at that time that 
corn arrived in better condition on the other side if so treated. 

AMUSEMENT PARKS. 

Before the opening of Druid Hill Park the Relay was the 
excursion ground and breathing place for I'altimore. On the 
ground on Viaduct avenue now owned by Charles Thompsoti and 
Miss Lena Faith, was a grove of trees. Near the center of it 
was erected a large dancing ])avilion and band stand, with A 
number of booths conveniently located, and scarcely a week would 
pass during the summer without one or more excursions there, 
one or two trains bringing them out and returning for them be- 
fore dark loud blasts of the whistle notifying the people of time 
to return to Baltimore. 



l83 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Another excursion place was opened here also by Mr. J. J. 
Hellman, who had built the brick house at the crossing at Elk- 
ridge, and the large brick house in St. Denis. He had the slope 
from the road to the river laid out with walks leading to various 
kinds of places of amusement, swings, flying-horses, etc. The 
flying-horses were far from being like those of the present time. 
A pole was set up and guyed as for a derrick, with four booms 
running out at the four opposite sides and securely guyed from 
the ends to the top of the pole. From the ends of each of these 
four booms was suspended a frame in which was a seat for two 
persons ; when these seats were filled two men stationed near 
the center would push the machine around. At the s de of the 
road he built a ten-pin alley. The little one-story house near 
the fire engine house was a part of it. People came from far 
and near to these two amusement parks. 

Gudgeon fishing was enjoyed by hundreds at that time. 
When I was a little girl I have often seen both banks of the 
river so crowded with anglers as to make it difficult to get a place 
to cast a line, and when you d'd you had to fish straight before 
you or else get out. This and the places of amusement were 
broken up by the outbreak of the Civil War. 

THE AVALON IRON WORKS. 

About one mile west of Relay, on the Howard County side, 
on Bockburn Branch, was an iron furnace owned by Mr. Dorsey, 
in which was smelted the iron ore dug out of the hills above up- 
per Elkridge. On the Baltimore County side near Relay and 
St. Denis was the Avalon Iron Works. It was a hustling place, 
where were manufactured iron plates, bars and nails. A small 
steamer, called the "Great Western," plied up the Patapsco as 
late as eighteen hundred and sixty-e'ght. The owners of the 
iron works and Ross Winans spent a great deal of money in 
straightening and deeping a channel up the river as far as the 
stone bridge ; they then purchased a small tug and a number of 
scows for the"r work. One wharf was built just below the stone 
bridge on the Baltimore County side and several along the 
Winans' farm. Pig and scrap iron were loaded on the scows at 
Baltimore for Avalon and manufactured iron hauled back and 
loaded on the scows to be taken to the city. This work was 
broken up by the freshet of 1868, which completely destroyed 
the wharves and channel. On the morning of the freshet the 
little steamer was moored to a large willow tree at one of the 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 189 

Winans' wharves, and when the water in the river began to rise 
high and still higher, James Biden, the farm manager for Winans, 
together with his brother and two men named Hawk, tried to 
make the boat more secure. They cHmbed into the tree to secure 
the fastenings higher up, while there the water rose so rapidly 
that they were surrounded. The fields along the river were soon 
under water and great quantities of debris floated down, uproot- 
ing the tree, carrying both boat and tree down the river. Mr. 
Biden remained on the tree until rescued near Light street bridge 
in an exhausted condition. All the other men were drowned. 

THE FORT AT RELAY. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War the Government recogniz- 
ing that Relay was of great importance, decided to occupy it and 
fortify it. At that time it was the point at which all passengers 
traveling between the West and South had to change cars, going 
either way, besides all travel between North and South passed, the 
Baltimore and Ohio being the only road running as far as Wash- 
ington, the Pennsylvania cars being hauled from Baltimore over 
the B. & O. The capture of this point or the destruction of the 
bridge by the Confederates must be prevented. 

One day shortly after war was declared two strange men 
drove out from Baltimore and made an examination of the 
bridge. A man who had been attracted by their actions sus- 
pected it to be their purpose to blow up the bridge, notified the 
agent of his suspicions, and he in turn notified the railroad au- 
thorities and they ordered the trackmen to guard the bridge day 
and night. Soon afterwards they built a fort beside the main 
line just west of where Relay station now is; this was built of 
bags of sand and mounted with two guns. Soon several regi- 
ments of soldiers were encamped in nearby places. Several large 
building were put up for the soldiers' sleeping quarters and one 
for a hosp'tal. 

A fort was commenced overlooking the bridge. This was 
an earthen fort mounting seven twelve-pound guns, one thirty- 
four pounder ; also two twelve pounders mounted outside the 
gate. Inside there was a magazine sunk deep in the ground, and 
then covered with a high mound of earth. In front of the en- 
trance to the magazine was another found of earth to protect it 
from the shells of the enemy. This fort was named after Gen- 
eral John A. D'x and was erected on the bluff above the Viaduct 
Hotel; this fort has long since been leveled down, and J. Byrne's 



.190 REAIv STORIES FROM RALTIMORH COUNTY HISTORY 

house now stands on its site and just above where the thirty- 
.four pounder stood. The soldiers remained here until after the 
y/ar was over. 

St. Denis is built upon the old drilling ground for all the 
soldiers were stationed around here. Several days each week each 
regiment, headed by a brass band or a fife and drum corps, would 
march from their encampment to these fields and there for hours 
at a time go through the diflferent kinds of drills. Some of the 
soldiers, not satisfied with their camp food would forage around 
the country for something better, often robbing chicken coops, 
meat houses, dairies, etc. If they were caught and convicted of 
these things they were generally punished in some way. The 
usual way of punishing a chicken thief was to knock the head and 
bottom out of a barrel, fix it over the man's body so that his 
head stuck through it, and with a large card in front and one at 
the back bearing the words in large letters: "Chxken Thief." 
Sometimes one of the chickens he had stolen was tied under the 
sign, then he was made to march up and down the platform at 
Relay all day long, the guard on duty there being charged to keep 
liim moving. For other ofifenses a man was made to fill his 
knapsack with stones or bricks and with that on his back march 
all day on the platform, sometimes labeled with a card telling his 
ofifense. 

The soldiers often took wood, hay or straw without the per- 
mission of the owner. One day a party of soldiers under com- 
mand of one of the minor officers went to a neighboring farm 
with a team to take straw from a stack. The man owning it did 
not wish to get into trouble so he did not go to object, not so 
with his wife, though. When she saw what they were after she 
went down and asked the man in charge if he had an order from 
the quartermaster for the straw ; he said it was not necessary, 
and ordered the men to load the straw. The woman drew a 
pistol from under her apron and said : 'T will shoot the first man 
who puts the fork in the straw. ' Then she told the officer to 
send a man to the quartermaster for an order, for with it he 
could get the needed straw. Soon the man returned with the 
order and the straw was given freely. 

As this neighborhood was under martial law most of the 
time during the war little or no advance or improvement was 
made here until after the war. Since then it has grown slowly 
and quietly to its present size. 

Adapted, Helen Galloway and Inez McCleod. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I9I 

VIADUCT BRIDGE. 

"Do hurry, boys," called Mary, "Miss Brown is going to tell 
us about the bridge. She is waiting for you." 

The children had been out on a long-promised fishing trip. 
Each had his little string of gudgeons, with perch and "sunnies," 
except Harry and Rob, who could not resist the temptation to 
go wading. Now they are having quite a time trying to put 
stockings on wet feet. 

At last Harry and Rob joined the party, and all were ready 
to hear the story, so they scit in a shady spot just a few yards 
above the Viaduct Bridge. 

"The bridge was designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe, Esq., and 
was at the time the largest structure of the kind in the United 
States. There are five arches, as you may see, each of which is 
sixty-six feet from the surface of the water. 

The monument erected at the northern end of the bridge 
was placed there by John McCartney, who constructed the 
bridge) at his own expense as a memorial of his connection with 
the great work. The work of construction started on July 4, 
1832, and was completed on July 4, 1835. 

"Now/ said the teacher, "on your way home we will stop 
at the monument and read the names on it." 

This was done, and after waiting for the long freight train 
to pass the happy children crossed the tracks and parted for their 
homes. Ine::: McClcod. 

THE OLD GATES. 

"We saw you get off the train and come down the steep, 
steep steps at the station, mother," said little John and Fred as 
they were being tucked into bed. 

"Yes, dears, mother was watching for you at the foot of 
the steps, too. When mother was a little girl she did not watch 
at the steps for her mamma." 

"Where did you stay then?" asked little Kred. "Mother 
stood at the gates and waited for grandma.' said niDther. 

"Do you mean at our gate, mother?" 

"No, no, dear! T mean at the railroad gates.' 

"I didn't know railroads had gates, did you, John?" 

"How could the trains get by?" asked John. 

"The gates were nf)t on the tracks,' said mother, "they were 
en each side of the railroad tracks to keep people and horses from 
crossing when a train was coming." 



192 KEAL STORIKS FROM BAI.TIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"Who opened the gates, mother?" asked Fred. 

"They did not have to be opened, my boy. They had to be 
hfted just as you would Hft your arm to keep some one from 
coming in at the door." 

"Did you hft the gates, mother, when you wanted to get 
ever the tracks ? ' 

"No, Httle son, an old man stayed in a little house near the 
gates and when he heard a train coming he let down the big 
gates." 

"Were they heavy, mother?" asked John. 

"Yes, but the man turned a large handle round and round 
and that let down the gates." 

"If he had not been there to let them down some little boys 
like Fred and John might have been killed, when they came to 
meet their mothers.' 

"May we play railroad gates, mother?" said John. 

"Yes, boys, you may play all day tomorrow if you wish, but 
we shall let down the sleepy gates now." 

"All aboard for slumber-land." Helen GaUozvay. 

WHEN THE SOLDIERS PASSED THROUGH GRANITE. 

"Grandma, ' said Evelyn, "Jimmie Mclntyre says that this 
country is going to war before long and that, if it lasts until he 
gets big enough, he is going, too." 

"I think J'mmie doesn't realize what he is talking about, 
Evelyn. We won't be likely to go to war very soon if we can 
help it. It is the wish of this country to keep at peace with all 
others as long as we can. War is a dreadful thing, as those who 
have seen it know only too well." 

"If we ever had a war, grandma, would it last long enough 
tor Jimmie to go?' 

"Sometimes it does, my dear. The Civil War lasted long 
enough for many a little lad to go to the army and get shot." 

"I shouldn't think Jimmie would like that. W^iat was the 
Civil War? Was the fighting here?'' 

"The Civil War was a fight between two parts of our coun- 
try — the North and the South. It was a hard, bitter time for us. 
Well do I remember the day when the Southern troops marched 
through this place.' 

"Oh, I thought that it was long, long ago before you were 
born, grandma. Tell me about it." 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY I93 

"Well, when I was a young girl, I lived quite near Alberton, 
and it was there I saw the soldiers. There were both Southern 
and Union men. The Southern troops were under Captain John- 
son, who was trying to make his way to Baltimore. He came 
down the Frederick pike from Frederick and then crossed over 
through Granite and down toward Alberton." 

"How did he know how to go. Grandma?" 

"You see, although Maryland was a Northern State, there 
were many people here who were in favor of the South." 

"Who were? Were you?" 

"Well, no; I was too gay and thoughtless in those days to 
think about it, but old Mr. Ben Dorsey, who then lived on Mr. 
Peach's place, thought so much of the South that he left all his 
property here and went South to keep from being drafted." 

"What's drafted?" 

"Being forced to fight when you didn't want to. Old Mr. 
Dorsey knew all about the land in this part of Baltimore County, 
and he gave Captain Johnson a map to go by. That is how he 
knew the country so well." 

"Where did you say the soldiers went." 

"They went down to Mr. Dorsey's place and stayed there for 
a while. The Union soldiers had a block-house just up on the 
liill from Alberton and Captain Johnson's men had to stay hidden 
to keep away from them. One day a young lieutenant with two 
others started out to discover the position of the Union pickets 
who were guarding the line around the block house. 

You know that place where the ruins of an old mill stand. 
W^ell, that used to be a prosperous business place in the war 
times. It was kept by Mr. Wright, who had a provision store 
in connection with the mill. On this day the lieutenant rode up 
to Mr. Wright's stable and traded horses with him. Mr. Wright 
was, of course, unaware of the transaction, as the horse left by 
the soldier was entirely worn out from hard riding. The poor 
fellow, howe'ver, paid dearly for his ihcft. 

With his two companions, one a friend and the other a 
cousin, he rode caut ously along the the ridge above Alberton. 
They were eagerly watching the movements of the solders at the 
block house, but just as carefully were they being guarded by the 
watchful pickets. 

Suddenly, becoming aware of the enemy the two men turned 
their horses to escape. They threw their bodies down beside the 



194 KKAL STORirvS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

horses and used their spurs vigorously. The horse of the first 
one carried him to safety, but the poor lieutenant was not so 
fortunate. His stolen horse, being unused to rough treatment 
with the spur, reared and plunged, exposing the rider to the full 
view of his opponent. In a twinkling he fell to the ground with 
a bullet through his heart. 

The th'rd soldier, who was following closely, seeing his 
cousin's perilous condition, threw up his hands and surrendered. 

There was great excitement around here that day. Every- 
body had heard of the capture and could talk of nothing else. 
The next day we went to the hill where the dead lieutenant was 
buried. It was a gruesome sight as they had hardly throw'i 
enough dirt over him to cover him. We could see the tip of his 
boots sticking up through the earth. 

"Are they still there, grandma? Could I see them if I went 
to look?" 

"No, his body only stayed there a short while. His cousin, 
who was kept a prisoner at the block house, wrote to his friends 
in the South and they sent a metallic coffin up at once so the 
body could be sent home. 

"Was the cousin always kept a prisoner?" 

"No, he was exchanged soon after that and was allowed to 
return home.' 

"Didn't they have a big battle after all?'' 

"Not near here. Captain Johnson soon found that he 
couldn't get any nearer to Baltimore, so he withdrew his troops.'' 

"That was a very interesting story, grandma. I thank you 
very much for telling it to me. Some day I will write it down 
for a language lesson, so that you will know how much I re- 
member of it." Ellen H. Gray. 

CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON. 
So closely entwined with the history of the State is the 
name of Charles Carroll of Carrollton that it is one with which 
we should be familiar. But it seems to me that Catonsville has 
a peculiar claim upon the name. Wa's it not Mary, the sixteen- 
year-old daughter, who showed her independent spirit, and cer- 
ta'inly the spirit of her father, by choosing to marry Richard 
Caton, then a poor man? Certainly the names of Caton and Car- 
roll still cling about the vicinity, and though the beautiful home 
of Charles Carroll is not in Baltimore County, yet he spent so 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY IQ5 

much of his Hfe here that he belongs to us. Some day you will 
learn all that this great man of Maryland did for his country. 
He was a true patriot, a true lover of his home in the new world, 
for you must know he was among the early settlers. He was 
an Englishman and loved the mother country very much. But 
there came a time when England and the Colonies did not get on 
together, and they had to settle the difficulty by war. Some men 
had to agree that we would fight for our independence, and 
Charles Carroll was one of them. 

Charles Carroll was a very wealthy man, and in case Eng- 
land won he would be called a rebel and lose all his wealth. But 
he did not mind that. He said as he signed the Declaration of 
Independence, "Well, there go a few millions," then added, "how- 
ever, there are so many Carrolls the British will not know which 
one it is. "He at once signed Charles Carroll of Carrollton, so 
there would be no mistake, and this is why he has been known 
by this name ever since. It is a title of which one may well be 
proud, finer even than that of duke or earl or prince, for was it 
not given in a good cause? 

He had a cousin who also won distinction, Charles Carroll, 
barrister, of whom you will wish to learn some day. Both men 
held public positions of trust, and served their city and state. 
Some day when you visit the city you will ride out to Homewood, 
the home of Johns Hopkins University, and there you will see 
the former home of Charles Carroll, the son of this grand old 
man, the first Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 

DOUGHOREGAN MANOR. 

Doughoregan Manor is the most famous estate in Maryland. 
Tt does not lie within the border of Baltimore County, but in 
Howard, her next door neighbor on the south. Still it is not far 
away, and it is worthy our visit. There are so many things of 
interest to young and old alike. The first Charles Carroll fied to 
America as a safe ])lace from the ill-treatment which he feared 
from the king and queen of England. Lord Baltimore was his 
friend and it was to his colony that he came. Shortly after his 
arrival he was granted 15,000 acres of land, and upon this he 
built a mansion in 171 7. The curious yellow bricks which you 
note were brought from England. Since the mans'on was begun 
many additions have been made until the buildings stretch along 
a front of more than three hundred feet. 



196 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

In one wins^ are the servants' quarters and the kitchens. 
Here you will find the great fireplace used in colonial times, the 
long iron crane upon which to swing the kettles, the long-handled 
frying pans and other quaint utensils. Among them the pan for 
carrying coals, the warming-pan, and others. Here the old mam-' 
mies cooked the food for the great house, and here the picanin- 
nies played. Here old Tom rested after his work in the garden 
was done. Those were real slave times, but both master and 
servant were content each in his own way. 

In the other wing is found the chapel now used as a mission. 
It seats three hundred and fifty persons. Here for more than a 
'hundred years masses have been said for the family, tenants, and 
slaves. Even when the house was unoccupied the services were 
continued. This chapel, however, was not joined to the house 
until after law granting religious freedom was made a part of the 
Constitution of the United States. 

The mansion is impressive in appearance, surrounded by 
spacious grounds, by beautiful gardens and walks of fine old 
trees. Not all of the original grant of land remains, there now 
being only about three thousand acres in this splendid estate at 
the present time. 

You can get some idea of the magnificence within, from these 
pictures. The hall is paneled in oak, and on the walls hang the 
portraits of eight generations of Carrolls. The furnishings are 
those of Colonial days. 

Governor John Lee Carroll lived here until his death in 1911, 
when the estate went to the joint ownership of his five children, 
one of whoi/i is Charles Carroll, who has made his home in 
France for the last twenty-five years. At the death of his father 
he and his wife decided to make Doughoregan Manor their home, 
and a celebration of their twenty-fifth anniversary was held at 
the mansion upon their return. However, since the war broke 
out both Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have been active in relief work in 
l-^aris, where they still spend a part of the time. 

The name of Carroll has been distinguished by other mem- 
bers of the family as well. Charles Carroll, barrister, belongs to 
the family who owned the Caves in Green Spring Valley, and 
Clynmalira Manor, near My Lady's Manor, was a part of the 
land granted to the Carrolls. 

Isabel Davidson. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY IQ7 

PATAPSCO NECK HISTORY. 
Discovered by Captain John Smith, 1608. 
Surveyed by Lord Baltimore's order, 1652. 
Land granted to Thomas Sparrow and others, 1652. 
Thomas Todd settled on the Neck, 1664. 
Philip Jones acqu'red a tract, 1733. 
Walnut Grove built, 1786. 
Todd home burned by the British, 1814. 

Todd's inheritance. 

In this day of modern improvements, when one sees mod- 
ern buildings, modern conveyances, and modern roads, it is a 
rare treat to find an old homestead that has been kept intact as 
to architecture and general plan for nearly two hundred years. 

Such a home as this is found at North Point, and is known 
as "Todd's Inheritance. ' The large stone house with its spa- 
cious hall running through the center and large rooms opening 
from it at either side is built upon the same foundation as the 
house which was built in 1664, when Mr. Thomas Todd of Vir- 
ginia canie to Baltimore County and purchased 1700 acres of 
land from William Battin, and Thomas Thomas, which they had 
named "Old Road" when given the grant by Lord Baltimore. 
No one knows at what price per acre, but that it must have been 
comparatively small is evident from the fact that about sixty 
years ago the present owner of the estate, Mr. Thomas Todd, 
re-purchased at $22 an acre some of the original land which 
had been sold. Much of the original tract has not been re- 
purchased because Miller's Island, Fort Howard, and the farm 
owned by Mr. Elmer Stansbury were formerly part of "Todd's 
Inheritance," as "Old Road ' became known. At the present 
time much of the land is worth $1,000 an acre. 

The house, built in 1664, was built of bricks brought in ves- 
sels from England and was burned by the British during the 
W^ar of 1812 on their march from North Point toward Balti- 
more, which they hoped to take by land. 

Bernard Todd, with a dragoon of nine soldiers, was sta- 
tioned in the house with powerful spy-glasses to watch for sus- 
picious looking vessels. Upon the <ipproach of the British ves- 
sels these men, mounted upon fast horses, fled to give the alarm, 
thus abandoning the house, which was easy prey for the sol- 
diers. 



198 KEAI, STORIES FROM BAL'riMORIi COUNTY HISTORY 

When/ "Todd's Inheritrmce" was first jnirchased by Mr. 
Thomas Todd of Virginia, a number of "kitchen middens" were 
found on the river shore and also on. the "bay shore.' These 
mounds of oyster shells were overgrown with grass and low 
shrubbery and were quite picturesque, but since "farming" was 
to be the chief pursuit, they were leveled and the shells hauled 
away and dumped into some ravine. Many arrow heads have 
been found here, some of which may be seen in the library of 
the Todd home. We are all agreed that we would rather find 
these evidences of Indians at North Point than see the fierce 
Susquehannoughs roaming about decorated in their war-pahit 
and feathers and brandishing their fierce tomahawks, for this 
was the tribe that made its home at North Point. 

The slaves' quarters were at a little distance irom the house, 
and here, after their evening meal, the slaves gathered in front 
of their houses and sang all the old melodies for which the slaves 
were famous in those days. 

As was the custom in those days, the Todds set aside a plot 
of ground near the house, which was known as the family bury- 
ing ground. This, like other burying grounds of the early set- 
tlers, is of considerable interest, though the inscription on the 
o]dest stone is now hardly decipherable. This stone is over the 
grave of Elizabeth Coon and her child. She was the wife of 
High Coon, a minister, who is said to have been a native of 
England, and had settled in Baltimore County. The wife took 
her infant on a trip to England, and on the return voyage, when 
nearing home, both died and were buried in the family burying 
ground on the Todd estate. 

No other record of the family has been found in the vicin- 
ity, and the name of Coon is not common. The inscription on 
the stone is as follows : 

"Here lyeth the body of Elizabeth Coon, 

who, departed this life 1717 in ye 27th year 

of her age ^^Daughter Coon this life 

22nd 1 year and 12 days." 

The breaks indicate the portion of the inscription which 
cannot be read. 

Other stones record the death of Bernard Todd in 1816, 
and other members of the family at later dates. Tt is rather 
strange, and the fact has not been satisfactorily explained, that 



oxce; upon a time; in our town and vicinity 199 

there are no graves of the Todd family bearing an eighteenth 
century date. 

1 he first deed recorded in Baltimore County was the deed 
to the Todd estate, when purchased by Mr. Thomas Todd of 
\^irginia fiom Mr. VVilham Battin and Mr. Thomas Thomas. 
\t a later period, when this deed was needed, it was found that 
it had disappeared. A search was instituted among the archives 
of Baltimore Town, and also of Baltimore County, when lo! it 
was found in a barrel in the cellar of the present State House 
at Annapolis. Deeds at this day are not kept in barrels, as we 
know, and this first deed may be seen at the Court House in 
Baltimore. 

The first will recorded in Baltimore County was that of 
Thomas Todd I. This will recites that "one brood mare and a 
feather bed be ^iven each of Mr. Todd's daughters." It is as 
quaint and interesting as most of the wills of the colonial period 
prove to be. 

Although agriculture is the only pursuit now carried on on 
the estate, Mr. Bernard Todd, one of the older residents, was 
much interests in marine trade and built vessels in the adjoin- 
ing creeks, cutting down the trees and hewing out the boats with 
a broad axe. Tobacco, which was raised extensively, was sent 
off in these boats. 

At a later period, 152 men from Maine came to "Lodge 
Farm," the property owned by John Eager Howard, and one 
of the farms adjoining "Todd's Inheritance.' They entered the 
great white oak forest bordering the creeks, and there in one 
winter secured frames for sixty-two vessels, which they took 
back to Maine, where the vessels were built. Twenty to thirty 
pa'irs of oxen were vised in hauling this lumber to the water 
front. 

When tobacco was no longer the crop raised in the fer- 
tile fields, wheat, corn, and rye waved in the sunshine. Many 
slaves helped to cultivate the fields and care for the crops. Those 
were the days before many different kinds of farm machinery 
had been invented to save labor. The plows were simple. The 
grain was cut by hand with a sickle, and threshed out upon 
the great barn floor with a flail. Oftentimes horses were driven 
back and forth upon the sheaves of grain scattered upon the 
floor, until the kernels were threshed — no, "tramped ' — out, thus 
rightly named the tread-mill. You can readily see that much 



200 KEAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORn; COUNTY HISTORY 

grain must have gone to waste, — but then there was no other 
way. You can also understand why it was necessary to have so 
many servants and assistants upon the manors. 

M. Annie Grace. 
PATAPSCO NECK. 

The truck farmers of Patapsco Neck have reason to be 
proud of the splendid macadamized roads leading from their 
farms direct to Baltimore City. These roads, which have re- 
cently been completed, are of great value, as is shown by the 
g'reat number of automobile trucks and large market wagons, 
laden with produce from the truck farms, which daily pass to 
and from the market over these roads. 

The older residents cannot help but contrast these fine roads, 
known now as Fifth Avenue, which connect directly with Fifth 
Avenue, Canton ; Trappe Road, which connects Fifth Avenue 
with Weis Avenue, and Weis Avenue, which leads on to the 
North Point Road with the old winding Trappe Road, which 
was formerly the only route to follow to market. An old gentle- 
man insists that this Trappe Road was marked off by a cow. 
One of the farmers had gone to Baltimore Town and purchased 
a cow which he attempted to drive to his home in the Neck. The 
cow led the farmer a merry chase, and when they finally reached 
their destination, the route marked out was such a circuitous 
one that all of the farmers agreed that the owner of the cow 
was fortunate to reach home in the '*we sma' hours" of the 
morning, as it is said that he did. 

This road was used until 1868, when some of the residents 
met and agreed to build a better one, which would be not only a 
direct route to Baltimore, but also wide enough to allow two 
teams to pass, and thus eliminate the necessity of stopping their 
teams laden with hay in the hollow and yelling a warning to 
any one who was coming around the curve. These men agreed 
to use a part of the Old Trappe Road for the new road, but 
cut a new section from Fifth Avenue, Canton, to the Trappe 
Road, thus making a more direct route to Baltimore. The farm- 
ers were so well pleased that they held a big oyster dinner at one 
of the road-houses when the road was nearly completed. Since 
it was built of oyster shells, the name "Shell Road" is frequently 
applied to it. 

Weis Avenue was built later to decrease the distance which 
the farmers of North Point had to travel to reach the Baltimore 
market. 



\ 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 201 

All of these road within the past few years have been mac- 
adamized and now are fine automobile roads. These are of 
great value, since nearly all of the farmers own automobiles, 
and also automobile trucks, in which they convey the produce 
from their truck farms to market. If some of the farmers who 
lived here about one hundred years ago could see these fine roads 
and conveyances, they would shake their heads and say, "It can- 
not be poss.ble that so much produce can be raised in Patapsco 
Neck.' The products at that time were mainly hay, corn, oats 
and wheat, and were drawn to market over the Old Trappe 
Koad in heavy wagons, to which were hitched two, three, or 
perhaps five horses. In winter or in early spring, even the 
wagons to which five horses were hitched were apt to become 
stalled in the mud. You may be sure that there were no un- 
necessary trips taken ; the mail and groceries were brought on 
the return trip by some of the market wagons. During the win- 
ter the farmer made but one trip a week, and sometimes that 
trip was made on horseback. Then, everything that was neces- 
sary was brought from Baltimore Town, and this was made to 
last until the next week. 

There were only five farms then in Patapsco Neck, and 
many times the owners of these farms — Mr. Todd, Mr. Jones, 
Mr. Murray, Colonel Green and Mr. Stansbury — met on Sun- 
day at the old meeting house and before the service talked of 
the condition of the road, of the amount of plowing that their 
oxen had accomplished, or of the number of bushels of wheat, 
oats or rye they had gotten when they beat out their grain with 
a tread mill or with a flail. 

The farmers were very proud of their oxen, and often 
boasted of their strength. It has been said that when an oxen 
would break a wooden yoke, Mr. Stansbury would stand with 
his hands on his hips and laugh heartily, then turning to one of 
his slaves would say, "Get another yoke, Sam; let us see if he 
can break that." 

Besides being used for plowing the ground and for hauling 
heavy loads, these oxen conveyed the family to church when 
the roads were very bad. At other t'nics the light spring wagon 
was the conveyance on Sunday. Instead of having fine woolen 
liorse blankets, the traveling rug was a quilt from the bed. This 
afiforded protection from the cold for the family as they rode 
along. After a time the wagon gave way to the two-wheeled 



202 REAL STORIES I^ROM IJAIvTIMORIi COUNTY HISTORY 

gig. Then the carriage came, and now the automobile, in which 
many leisurely ride, never thinking of the discomforts of the 
rumbling ox-cart or of the two-wheeled gig which their great- 
grandfathers thought so fine. 

As time passed, more and more people moved to Patapsco 
Neck. The need of a school was felt very keenly, so a log school 
house was built, in which only gentlemen school teachers taught. 
This was abandoned when the frame school house was built in 
the church yard which adjoins the old church on the North Point 
Road, and has since been used as a stable on the farm which 
formerly belonged to Mr. Andrew Rogers. The first lady teacher 
was Miss Mary Choate. Just before her arrival she was being 
discussed at one of the homes, and upon inquiry as to her ap- 
pearance some one remarked, "Why, John, she's got yaller hair." 
Now there are five schools in Patapsco Neck, one of which is a 
high school of considerable size. In these schools are many lady 
teachers ; in fact, more ladies than men. The only church for a 
long time was "the old meeting house' on the North Point Road. 
This was used for a hospital for wounded soldiers during the 
War of 1812. 

There was a flour mill on the Germany Hill Road, in which 
wheat was ground zi'hen the wind blew, because that was the 
only power then known that could move the four huge paddles 
which moved the machinery in the mill. The miller worked when 
the wind blew. He rested when it did not. 

On Col. Kimble's farm was a cocoonery in which silk worms 
were raised. These worms were imported "from France," some 
say, and some say, "from Japan ;" however, Colonel Kimble at- 
tended them faithfully, feeding them mulberry leaves and trying 
to keep the cocoonery at the right temperature with the wood 
fire, but did not find his business successful, since he was never 
able to unwind the cocoon— the silken thread was never quite 
strong enough to bear the strain. 

You do not wonder, then, that the people agreed that Pa- 
tapsco Neck was intended as a good farming section, and such 
it has been until just within the past few years, when realty 
companies have secured options on most of the land, and what 
has been a great farm bids fair in the near future to become a 
flourishing city. 

M. Annie Grace. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 20T, 

SPARROWS POINT AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN. 
(Data taken from papers written by J. H. K. Shanahan, Jr.) 
Land Grant — 1652. Oldest house — 1740. Town begun — 1840. 

The thriving settlement on Sparrows Point, with the exten- 
sive works of the Maryland Steel Company in the foreground 
and the town in the backgr(.)und, would be sure to attract the 
attention of a traveler who had not visited these parts during the 
last quarter of a century. 

The last time he \\'as down the river the roar of the great 
mills and the intermittent flames from the bessemer did not 
greet him. Instead, where the great steel plant now stands, 
there was an extensive marsh, while where the town may now 
be seen, stood fields of waving grain, with the barns and out- 
buildings of a large farm near at hand. 

If the returning traveler should inquire what town it is that 
he sees, the chances are some one will say, "That is Steelton.' 
It is surprising, indeed, the number of people in Baltimore who 
persist in speaking of Sparrows Point as Steelton. 

There is a Steelton in Pennsylvania that has been intimately 
associated with the plant at Sparrows Point in many ways. Per- 
liaps this accounts for it. 

LAND GRANT 1652. 

This neck of land is a part of a grant of land made by the 
Lords Proprietary to Thomas Sparrow in November, 1652, and 
since that time the property has been known as bparrows Point. 

Therefore, over 80 years before Baltimore was laid out, 
Sparrows Point was on the map. When the land was later ac- 
(|uired for the great industrial i^lant that has since helped to 
spread Maryland's fame over the world, the new owners decided 
to let it keep its original name. 

Solomon Sparrow, son of Thomas Sparrow, built a house 
on the I'oint which was known as "Sparrow's Nest." The site 
of this house is now marked by a brick building of more modern 
construction, which is used as a public school kindergarten. This 
brick house was built shortly after 1840 by the late William J. 
Albert, who was a Congressman from Baltimore for the term 
1873-1875. It was used by him and his friends as a club house. 
Ducking was good along the Patapsco in those days, and many 
himting lodges were established on its shores. 

The property was held by members of the vSi)arr()w family 
until the first part of the last century. 



204 KEAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

ONCE A PEACH ORCHARD. 

Twenty-five years ago on what is now the site of a large 
boarding house for working men, the Patapsco Hotel, and the 
drydock department, in which the floating drydock Dewey was 
built, there was a peach orchard skirting the shores of the river. 

Near the old club there are still standing two other buildings 
v/hich were built in the days before a steel plant was dreamed 
of. One of these was of brick and was one of the farm build- 
ings on the tract when the steel company purchased the land. 

The Other structure is smaller and is made of cement. It 
was used as a dairy, and during slave time as a "quarter"' for a 
few negroes. 

These three buildings, together w'th a frame scructure east 
of where the rail mill now stands, and known as the "corn crib 
house. ' are the only links which bind the present hive Of indus- 
try on the Sparrows Point with its more quiet and unpreten- 
tious past. 

Just across Humphrey's Creek, an arm of the Bear Creek, 
which separates that portion of the town inhabited by the wh te 
residents from that assigned to the colored people, on land which 
was acquired later by the steel company, now stands an old frame 
house wh'ich, as nearly as can be estimated, is at least 175 years 
old. 

About the year 1886 the Pennsylvania Steel Company, whose 
jjlant is located at Steelton, Pa., a few miles outside of Harris- 
burg, wanted a plant on tidewater, so that it might receive ore 
from Cuba or other foreign countr-ies without the cost of inland 
freights. Such a plant, it was seen, would also give the com- 
pany a decided advantage when competing for foreign business, 
since the product could be loaded directly into steamships. Spar- 
rows Point plant was practically the first American steel mill to 
enter the foreign market. 

Having come to this decision, the matter of a suitable site 
was investigated, and Sparrows Point was found to best fill all 
the requirements. Accordingly, Mr. Jacob Taylor, a prom-nent 
business man of Baltimore, was asked to secure about i.ooo 
acres of land in that vicinity. 

Visiting the owner of the property one day, Mr. Taylor led 
up to the question of buying the farm, but the farmer only shook 
h's head. Increased ofifers made no seeming impression, until 
finally he reluctantly agreed to talk it over with his wife. Mr. 



ONCE UPON A TIME) IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 205 

Taylor felt somewhat encouraged and accompanied the farmer 
to the house, where he endeavored to interest the wife in the 
proposition, but she proved even more obdurate than her hus- 
band, and Mr. Taylor wished he had settled the matter in the 
field. 

MUSIC CONQUEKKD ITER. 

Dinnertime came without an agreement. The would-be pur- 
chaser was invited to stay for dinner, and while the host and 
hostess went about their several duties, Mr. Taylor sat in the 
parlor and pondered. Noticing a cabinet organ in the corner, he 
observed upon it a book of Moody and Sankey hymns, opened at 
the hymn "Almost Persuaded," which he considered a favorable 
omen. Being a fine musician and possessing a good voice, he was 
soon whiling away the time singing the old Methodist hymns. 
The housewife, herself a staunch Methodist and a lover of musx, 
was lured from her duties, and standing behind the performer, 
soon mingled her voice with his. The music, no doubt, had a 
persuasive effect, for when Mr. Taylor returned later to the city 
he had an option on the property, which has since become the 
site of one of the most widely know^n steel plants in the world. 

After all formalities in connection with the purchase of the 
property had been concluded, the Pennsylvania Steel Company 
had begun to build its "Maryland Extension," as it was at first 
called, and as it remained until June, 1891, when a charter was 
taken out and the Maryland Steel Company was incorporated. 

In March, 1887, the first surveyors came from Steelton and 
laid out the town and its works in accordance with the draw- 
ings which had been mapped out there. 

WHEN WORK WAS BEGUN. 

The first shovelful of dirt to be turned in the new enterprise 
came out of a test hole on the site of the blast furnaces. It was 
sunk to determine the nature of the sub-soil, which proved to be 
clay. 

The holes were dug by a colored man named David Jack- 
son, who is still living and frequently comes to town, as his home 
is only a short distance from the Point. He is always in a good 
humor, and the inhabitants are warned of his near approach by 
his cheery laugh, which resembles somewhat the bray of a mule. 

In May, 1887, the first step in actual building of the plant 
was taken by the establishment of a brickyard. Th-is was near 
the site of the present town pumping station. Here also was the 



2o6 Rt:AL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE; COUNTY HISTORY 

first Store, whose inventory showed a few wash basins, frying 
pans, soap and towels. In one of llie unpretentious temporary 
buildings was the company's offices. 

At the time work started in the brickyard, the marsh was 
being drained. Parts of it were dammed up and the water 
pumped out by a windmill. This marsh extended over all the 
territory between the blast furnaces and the store, as well as in 
a northern direction to Bear Creek. Indeed, the foundations of 
the bessemer itself were formerly in the midst of the marsh. 

Many of the early visitors at the Point will recall this marsh 
and the foot-bridge which crossed it, with its single railing on 
the river side. 

In August, 1887, the foundations of the blast furnaces were 
started and hundreds of men were at work, while little shifting 
engines had begun to snort and puff around the yard wnth an air 
of great importance. 

Meantime the town was not being neglected. Streets had 
been laid out and a few residences had been erected, with others 
under construction. Near the brickyard had been built the doc- 
tor's office, in one end of which the physician lived. This build- 
ing is still standing, and is now used as a barber shop. 

The store, too, now boasted of better quarters and a larger 
stock. The low pier was under construction, and things gener- 
ally were rapidly assuming definite proportions. 

In October, 1889, the first pig iron was drawn from the 
blast furnaces. With the beginning of the manufacture of iron 
the days of the marsh were numbered, for the molten slag was 
dumped into its midst, killing the rank vegetation and replacing 
the mud and slime with a hard, lava-like substance. Th's prac- 
tice has been continued during the last 20 years, until now there 
isn t a marsh the size of a man's head on the company property.* 
(Seepage;). 

GETTING TO BALTIMORE. 

The organization of transportation to and from the Point 
makes one of the most interesting chapters of the little town's 
I li story. In March, 1887, wdien trips first began to be of any fre- 
quency, a bugeye was used. The landing was made in Hum- 
phrey's Creek. 

Following the bugeye, the company bought the steam launch 
Viola, which was about 50 feet long and carried from 20 to 25 
passengers. She proved to be a snare and a delusion, and fre- 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 20/ 

quently broke down when midway between Baltimore and Spar- 
rows Point, with the result that the passengers had to row ashore 
and walk back to Baltimore or go to Sparrows Point, which 
j)roved to be the closer. 

Next came the tug "Canton," which not only made regular 
trips carrying passengers, but towed large car floats with loaded 
fi eight cars containing material for the embryo plant. 

After the "Canton," the steamer "Olive' made regular trips 
between the Point and Baltimore on her route to Rock Creek. 
In the meantime work had been started on the Baltimore and 
Sparrows Point Railroad, and on February ii, 1889, ^^^ ^^^^ 
passenger train was run. 

The trains did not enter the town then, as now, but came 
into what is now the freight station, across the yard at right 
angles to the track now used. 

With the opening of the railroad, travel to and from the 
Point by water was at an end, and never since has a passenger 
steamer run between the town and Baltimore. 

*On August, 1 891, the first bessemer steel ever made in 
Maryland was blown, and on the 7th of the same month the 
rail mill rolled its first rail. 

A SPOTLESS TOWN. 

It is but natural that the name of Sparrows Point should 
be synonmous with the manufacture of iron and steel, but to 
think that this is all connected with it is to do the town a great 
injustice. 

Besides the great mills, which have rolled thousands of tons 
of rails not only for this country, but for far-away India, Japan, 
China, and, indeed, for all parts of the civilized world, there is 
the great shipyard, from which vessels of every description, from 
tugs to ocean liners, not forgetting the destroyers for the Navy 
and the great drydock Dewey, have been set afloat. 

Let us hear something of the town separate and distinct from 
the works; something about its well-laid out streets, which are 
scrupulously kept; its comfortable houses, its churches and 
Schools, as well as something of its social life. 

To begin with, its location is its greatest charm. Situated 
at the mouth of the Pata])sco, where it pours its waters into the 
mighty Chesapeake, with the rami:)arts of Fort Howard on the 
U'ft and the shores of Anne Arundel on the right, it gives between 
an unbroken v'ew down the bay as far as eye can reach. 



2o8 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

When the city and its less fortunate suburbs are sweltering 
in the heat, Sparrows Point is swept by the cool salt breezes of 
the bay, and its residents spend their leisure hours on the tennis 
court or in some small craft on the river. 

Indeed, during the summer months the town presents very 
much the appearance of a summer resort. In the broad piazzas 
which completely surround the club building, which is on the 
river front, may be seen the ladies in their cool lawns and the 
men in their ducks or flannels. 

The club-building itself is worthy of comment in passing. 
Of pleasing yet simple design, its white columns suggest the Co- 
lonial Period, which is in keeping with the historic associations 
of the place. On entering we find ourselves in the ballroom and 
facing a large open fireplace. The floor is as smooth and level 
as a billiard table, being laid in the choicest maple. On its walls 
are pictures of real merit. To the r'ght is the reading-room, on 
\vhose tables may be found all the leading magazines of the day, 
while adjoining is the ladies' parlor, furnished in Colonial ma- 
hogany. To the left is the billiard and pool room, while at the 
rear are the kitchen and toilet rooms. 

Membership in the club is by election, and during the win- 
ter months bi-monthly functions are given, alternating with card 
parties and dances. A guest at one of these entertainments finds 
little to suggest iron and steel, smoke or dirt. The brilliantly 
lighted room, the cheerful glow of the open fire, the evening 
clothes of the men and women, suggest as pleasing a picture as 
this frivolous age can present. 

SEWERAGE SYSTEM LIGHT HEAT. 

The town is provided with a sewerage system, and deep ar- 
tesian wells insure a pure supply of drinking water. 

Many of the houses are lighted with electric lights and 
heated by steam, so we find modern houses in abundance in this 
little city by the sea. 

A large number of the houses stand out alone in little lots 
of their own. 

The res-dents have ever taken a deep interest in the town, 
and in the spring it is surprising the number of flowers which 
may be seen. It has been said that more and prettier roses are 
grown in Sparrows Point than in any other small town in th" 
State. Climbing roses, white and pink ; American Beauties are 
grown here, and almost every variety one ever saw seems to 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 20g 

thrive. Another of the great natural charms of llic town, in 
addition to its proximity to the bay, is the presence, at its eastern 
edge, of Pennwood Grove. This was known as Holly Grove in 
the days before the coming of the steel company, and it was 
famous as an excursion park. 

To this day may still be seen the swings and some of the 
other apparatus of a picnic-ground, while on the river bank there 
still stand, as solitary sentinels of the good times that are gone 
the lone chimneys of the old dancing pavilion, which several 
years ago fell victim to the fire king. 

Even now the old chimneys have not outlived their use- 
fulness, for their broad hearths are annually the scene of more 
than one oyster roast, and the sound of laughter and merriment 
still echoes around them. 

With the coming of the steel works the name of Holly 
Wood, so called because of its large number of holly trees, died, 
and it was re-named Pennwood Grove, the prefix coming from 
the name of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, its new owner, 
and the suffix from its resident offcial. 

In this grove are many beautiful shaded walks, which are 
the mecca for the young folks of the town. 

There are sixty-odd varieties of trees in this grove. Some 
of them huge fellows, lifting their twisted branches, hoary with 
age, high above their comrades. 

Of all the rides from the city to Bay Shore Park, it has 
been remarked many times that that portion through the grove 
at Sparrows Point is the most delightful. 

CHURCHES. 

There are five churches, representing the Protestant Epis- 
copal, Methodist Episcopal, English Lutheran, Roman Catholic 
and Presbyterian denominations. Across the creek, meaning 
Humphrey s Creek, the colored population have tlieir churches 
and schools. 

EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES. 

The residents po'nt with pride to the educational system 
of the town. 

Sparrows Point enjoys the distinction of being the first 
I-ublic school south of Mason and Dixon's Line to have a kin- 
dergarten. Hanging in a frame on the wall in one of the rooms 
of the kindergarten may be seen the pen with wlr'ch Governor 
Lowndes signed the bill that gave Sparrows Point the kinder- 
garten. 



2IO REAL vSTORlES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

They made still another important addition with the suc- 
cessful opening of the first "home economics' course ever con- 
nected with a public school system on the Atlantic seaboard. 

Here we find a suite of rooms, comprising a modern kitchen, 
with individual tables provided with all conveniences, an alcohol 
stove included ; a pantry, a dining room ; and that the young 
ladies may not be remiss in the details of housekeeping, a bed- 
room; the care of all of which, including the appointments of a 
properly set dining table, the rudiments of plain sewing, and 
nursing, is all taught. 

The Steel Company has always taken a deep interest in the 
educational system of the town, and has contributed generously 
to its support, following out a policy established at the parent 
plant in Pennsylvaii'a more than thirty years before. 

MATERIAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. 

The material needs of the community are well provided for 
by the Sparrows Point Store Company. A main store and two 
branches, a creamery, a dairy and a farm are among the store's 
resources. The farm is on the outskirts of the town, and here 
are grown many fresh vegetables. In the dairy arrangements 
we find a herd of one hundred and fifty choice cows, with an ex- 
perienced dairyman in charge ; and the milk produced, it is said, 
cannot be surpassed. 

The market at the Point has all the variety which can be 
found in the city, while to insure a safe grade of meat about 
twenty beeves are killed weekly at tlie abbattoir. 

In short, Sparrows Point's geographical position, its many 
resources with which to meet municipal needs, rivals that of any 
small town in the State. 

Lilliaji Bmory. 
LIGHT HOUSES. 

Such a lovely day had it been ! 7\unt Mabel was having va- 
cation and had taken George and Jack, her two little nephews, 
on the long promised boat ride to Port Deposit. 

Now they were returning to Baltimore, and Aunt Mabel saw 
that the little fellows were getting tired and sleepy, though they 
would not own it. 

"Do you know where we are?'' she asked. 

There was no reply, but the boys looked interested. 

"Almost to the Patapsco River," she said. 



ONCE UPON A TIMIC IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 211 

''Why, how do you know?" asked George. 

"The same way the captain knows,' said Aunt Mabel. 

"Do you see this bright Hght over here, and that one over 
there?" 

"Yes, arc they boats?" asked George. 

"No, indeed, they are lighthouses,' said his aunt. 

"What's a lighthouse for?" asked Jack, sleepily. 

"Why do you want a light at the lo]) of the stairs every 
night?" asked Aunt Mabel. 

"So I won t bump into the post," answered Jack. 

"That is just why the captain wants a lighthouse," said 
auntie. "In the day time, you can see a rocky point over there. 
If it were not lighted at night what might happen to our boat?" 

"It might bump into the rocks and hurt itself," said Jack. 

"Yes, and hurt us, too, if it bumped a hole in the l)oat, so 
that enough water could get in to sink us, ' said his aunt. 

"The captain must know the channel, and the lights show 
him where it is." 

"Now, I can see only one light, and oh! dear, I believe we 
shall run into it. Is the captain asleep, do you suppose?" asked 
George. 

"I'm sure not,'' repbed Aunt Mabel. "The light ahead is 
called 'Front Craig,' and the one behind, 'Rear Craig.' The cap- 
tain turns his boat so that they are both in a line ahead of him. 
He calls that being 'in range.' He must see only one light. If 
he sees two, he is out of his channel. Now, let us watch. Are 
we still going toward them?" 

"Oh, no, we are going toward that Hght over there,' an- 
swered George. 

"Yes, that is another lighthouse, the 'Baltimore Light,' " she 
replied. "When we get near that light we shall turn into the 
Patapsco River. Across the river is the 'Bodkin Lighthouse,' 
but the channel has been changed so we don't go near enough 
to that point to need it. 

"I don't see any light over there,' said George. 

"No, it isn't lighted any more," said Aunt Mabel. 

"What will they do with it," asked George. 

"They have" sold it, I th-nk, ' said his aunt. There are sev- 
eral acres of ground around it, and it will be a nice place for 
some one to live." 

"Are we in the river yet ?" asked George. 



212 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"Yes, there is Fort Howard," replied auntie. 

"Where the soldiers live?' asked Jack, wide enough awake, 
now. 

"Yes, indeed. Do you see the lighthouse now?'' asked his 
aunt. 

"Oh,'' said Jack, "is that a lighthouse?" I thought it was the 
soldiers light." 

"No, it is not even near the fort, but out in the water some 
distance," answered Aunt Mabel. 

"How could it be in the water?" asked Jack. "Is it on a 
boat ?" 

"No, dear, but in some places where it is too rough to build 
lighthouses, they do keep a boat anchored with a light on it. But 
here the water is not very deep, and rocks have been sunk and 
the lighthouse built on a pile of rocks. 

"Over here, opposite Fort Howard, is Fort Smallwood. 

"Now watch out for another light ahead, for lighthouses, 
30U know, often go in pairs. The captain follows the two 'in 
range,' as I told you before,' said Aunt Mabel. 

"Oh, I see it," said Jack. "What makes it blink so? ' 

"ril tell you all about that one," said his aunt, "for I ve been 
there. It is 'Rear Cut Ofif,' or 'Holly Grove Lighthouse,' and 
the one we just passed is 'Front Cut Off.' Sometimes it is called 
'Fort Howard Light,' or 'North Point Light.' 

"Last year I had in my class a little girl named Margaret 
Greene. She said her grandfather was the lighthouse keeper at 
Holly Grove, so I asked her to take me down to see it. 

"On Saturday afternoon we set out, and after a walk through 
the lovely Holly Grove, we reached the point, and there stood the 
lighthouse, like a giant. It is ever so much h-'gher when you are 
close to it than it looks from here. Mr. Green told me it is sixty- 
four feet tall." 

"Why," said George, "that is as tall as a tree, and ten times 
as tall as father. Why did they make it so tall?" 

"Why were you so glad your father is so tall, when he took 
you to the circus?' asked his aunt. 

'Because I could see him over the other people in the crowed 
and found him when I was lost," answered George. 

"Now, can't you guess why the captain wants the light high?" 

"I can," said Jack laughing, "it is the captain s papa, and he 
looks for him when he gets lost in the dark. 



once: upon a time in our town and vicinity 213 

"You are a good guesser," said Aunt Mabel, laughing. "Mr. 
Greene sa'd he has lived at this lighthouse twenty-two years. 
The lighthouse is thirty-three years old, but he was not the first 
keeper here. He lived at another lighthouse point about which 
I'll tell you later. ' 

"What does he have to do ? ' asked George. 

"Nothing now, because the lighthouse is lighted by gas, 
which burns all the time. In the lower part of the tall tower, 
made of corrugated iron, he showed me five tanks of gas. to 
which are attached long pipes running up to the light. That 
much is supposed to last five months. The light is regulated by 
some kind of a sun dial so that it burns brightly at night and on 
cloudy and foggy days, but on sunny days so dimly that you 
can't see it at all. One winter there were many cloudy days, 
and the gas gave out after a time. What would the captam do if 
he should come up the river and see no rear lighi.?" 

"Cry for his papa,' said Jack. 

"He would wonder what had happened to the light keeper," 
said George. 

"So he would," replied Aunt Mabel. 

"The tanks reminded me of giant sausages. They were 
about five and half feet tall, and two feet around. 

"I also saw something which looked like a clock. 

"What is that?" I asked. 

"That, sa'd Mr. Greene, "is a tester. We measure gas pow- 
er by "atmospheres." I tested this when all five tanks were at- 
tached. It measured thirteen atmospheres. I tested it again 
when there was only one tank. It measured the same. So I 
suppose one tank will furnish just as good a light as five, but, 
of course, when five are attached, the light burns five times as 
long." 

We climbed up the steps, which had many turnings, until 
we reached the top. He opened the little door, and he went out 
on a little balconoy. There we saw someth'ng which was shaped 
like a big clock. Its face was a door of ridged glass, the kind 
you look in and see rainbows. They are called prisms. Mr. 
Green opened the glass door and inside we saw some wires and 
a little gas light which kept going off and on — that's what makes 
it blink. Back of the light is a small reflecter. At the side was 
erected the upright, which makes it burn dimly or brightly, ac- 
cording to the light. 



214 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Gas light has been used only a year, or shice May 15, 1915. 
Before that, the oil lamps were used. The old lamp was still 
there, behind the new one. It was not a large lamp, but it had a 
circular wick, and a very large metal reflector back of it. It had 
to kept bright and shining. Every day the lamp had to be cleaned 
and filled. It held nine pints of oil. They had two lamps; one 
always ready. When they took out one to clean it they put in 
the other. The measures, floors and everything in the tower were 
kept spotless. 

Once the lighthouse nearly burned down. Something went 
wrong with the lamps and it set the tower afire. Mr. Greene's 
dog saw the fire and barked to waken his master. The tower was 
saved. There cannot be the same danger with gas and electricity. 

I asked Mr. Greene who looked after lighthouses. He said 
"The Department of Commerce, whose secretary is Mr. Redfield. 
It used to be run by the Treasury Department, and there were 
two managers, one a naval ofticer, and the other an army officer, 
but that is changed now. 

"Aunt Mabel," said George, "there are two lights, but we 
are not following them.' 

"No, we go between them. That is Fort Carroll, and out 
there is Leading Point Lighthouse." 

"Is it built on rocks, too?" 

"No, it is called a 'screw pile light house. Five steel piles 
are screwed into the bottom of the river and the lighthouse is 
built on them." 

"Does a keeper stay there all the time?" 

"One used to, when they used lamps. ' 

"How did he get anything to eat?" 

"There was someone to take the coal oil supplies to him in a 
boat. How would you like to live out over the water like that?" 

"Oh, ' said Jack, "the first thing I'd do would be to fall in." 
"I'm sure of that," said his aunt. 

"Aunt Mabel," said George, "I see a row of lights. I believe 
we are going to run over them." 

"We shall go very near ; I think they are buoys." 

"Boys,' said Jack, "are they in boats?" Do their mothers 
let them stay out all night ? ' 

"No, dear, not b-o-y-s, but b-u-o-y-s. They are gas I'ghts, 
too, anchored there. They are chained to a heavy weight which 
is sunk to the bottom." 



ONCE UPON A TIMR IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 21 5 

"I should think they would upset," said George. 

"The frame is fastened to a ballast or small weight, which 
keeps it upright. There are about thirteen of them up the river 
to show the captain the channel. Some buoys have whistles and 
some have bells which the motion of the water rings."' 

"Aunt Mabel, when we went to Tolchester one afternoon, 
I saw something in the water painted black and red. What were 
they?' asked George. 

"Those are wreck signals. The captain must keep away 
from them because an old sunken boat or rocks may be in the 
way. Sometimes they have a lighthouse near a wreck." 

"Now, boys, you can see the lighthouse at Fort McHenry, 
and opposite is the oldest lighthouse on the river — the one I 
promised to tell you about. It has the funniest name, — Lazza- 
letto, which means pest-house, or hospital for contagious dis- 
eases. Long ago boats docking at the wharf in Baltimore had to 
unload there for quarantine. But now an inspector quaran- 
tines the boats after they land. This is the one where Mr. 
Greene used to live. It is lighted by electricity, which they get 
from the city. Now we are at Light street wharf." 

"Why, so we are," said Jack. "I thought it was another 
lighthouse and was waiting for your story. ' 

"Sometime I will tell you about another lighthouse called 
'Grace Darling.' " Mabel Brent Garrott. 

ST. HELENA. 

It was a beautiful sunny day in June when grandpa and 
twelve-year-old Gordon got ofif the nine o'clock train at the sta- 
tion of the pretty little village of St. Helena. 

"Show me the house in which you were born, grandpa," said 
little Gordon. 'I should like to go there first. I wonder if the 
jH'ople I'ving there would let me go upstairs to see the little room 
in which you slept, and oh, do not forget to show mc the tree 
that you climbed when the old mother sheep raced you into the 
garden and then stood guard, until great-grandfather came and 
drove her away.'' 

"Very well, my little man," said grandpa, "Init I think we 
shall have time to see all of the interesting points before we go 
home." 

"Let us walk down tlv's path beside the railroad (rack and I 
will show you where the bear landed that swam over from River- 



2X6 REAL STORIES FROM P.AETIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

view and attacked your father. This is the field in which he 
was working when the bear broke out of his pen at Point Breeze, 
as Riverview was then called, and swam straight across Colgate 
Creek. He landed right near that big tree on the shore and made 
a dash at your father, throwing him to the ground. The men 
from Point Breeze followed the bear, but before they reached 
him, an old colored man had killed him with a fence rail." 

"Did the bear run right across the railroad tracks, grandpa? ' 

"The railroad track was not here then, Gordon, it was laid 
in 1882, after Sparrows Point had been purchased by the Mary- 
land Steel Company, and they were compelled to find some way 
in which to sh'p coal and iron to the works there, and to bring 
awa}^ the rails that are manufactured there." 

"Grandpa, did you move before these houses were built 
here?" 

"Yes, when I lived here there was only one house, that big 
frame house standing by itself over there. The barns and sheds 
have been torn down, but there is the old brick house which was 
used as a smoke house, in which to smoke hams, when we killed 
hogs. We shall go there later. Now there must be about five 
hundred people living here." 

"Here is Baltimore avenue. They named that for Baltimore 
street in the city. There is the school. Isn't it a pretty build- 
ing? It was built in 1903, and do you know, Gordon, your aunt 
Annie was the first teacher there. You must get her to tell you 
all about it, the next time she visits you. When I lived here 
this was the apple orchard, and many an apple tree I have climbed 
to get a fine big apple that hung high in the tree. 

"R'ght across the street is the postoffice and telephone ex- 
change, and there is a big arc light on a pole in front of the post- 
office. When I lived here, we had no telephone, no postoltice 
and no electric lights. We had to drive to the city for our mail, 
and since it was about four miles, we only went once a week. 
In fact, sometimes during the winter, we did not get there for 
ever a month, because the road would be blocked with snow- 
drifts. 

"Let us walk down Baltimore avenue. There is an Episco- 
pal church which was built in 1904. That is not the first church 
that was built ; T shall, however, show you that later on. There iz 
cT bakery. Do not the cakes in the window look nice? Here are 
two stores, one on each side of this avenue. Let us go into this 
one and get some ice-cream and cake. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 217 

"Good morning, sir, we should like some cream and cake," 
said grandpa. 

"You are strangers here,' said the storekeeper. 

"Well, I suppose you might call me a stranger now, but when 
I tell you that I lived here for twenty-nine years, in fact, until I 
married this little fellow's grandmother, you will not think the 
place is wholly strange to me, will you?" 

"No, indeed, then your name must be . Well, sir, 

I am, indeed, glad to meet you. 1 have been here for ten years and 
have noted many changes, but you can see a far greater change, 
I feel sure." 

"Yes, indeed. Did you open the first store here ?" 

"No, a man by the name of Mr. Weber opened the first one, 
but ill health compelled h-'m to give it up, then Mr. Spencer 
opened one, but a spark from an engine caused a fire and he did 
not reopen his store, although he rebuilt the house." 

"Have there been many fires since you have been here?" 

"No, the store burned in igo8, and the fertilizer factory on 
the shore burned in looo. 1 think that those are the only two 
fires that have occurred. You must visit the engine house and 
see the fine chem'cal engine which was secured through the ef- 
forts of the improvement association. We have a volunteer 
company, yet if there should be a fire, every man would respond 
faithfully to the call." 

"Where is the engine-house? I should like my grandson to 
see it." 

"It is on Riverview avenue ; you will get a splendid view of 
the Patapsco River and of Fort Carroll from here." 

"How is water su]:)plied in the homes here?" 

"By a force pump which fills the reservoir near the pump- 
house on Patapsco avenue. You may see it out this window. 
We have no sewage system here." 

"Who is the oldest inhabitant?'' 

"Mr. Spencer, an Englishman, whe moved here from Bal- 
timore. He was a carpenter and was lured here by the prospect 
of securing work when the first building lots were laid out by Mr. 
Charles Levis, the manager. I suppose you know him." 

"Yes, I knew him very well before I left St. Helena. My 
father moved from here when Mr. Levis took charge of St. 
Helena." 

"Perhaps you can tell me who owned St. Helena before Mr. 
Levis secured it?" 



2l8 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

"Why yes, Mr. Conroy, a Philadelphia banker, owned it. 
His family secured it from the heirs of Mr. Sutton. Before Mr. 
Sutton bought it Coloniel Arthur Bryan, an Englishman, owned 
it. It is thought that he secured it as a grant from Lord Balti- 
iuorc. Did you know that St. Helena at first included these 
four adjoining farms? When I lived here, Mr. John Grace's 
farm was part of this place. The whole was known as Long- 
wood." 

"Where do they get the name of Longwood?" 

"The southern boundary ran right to the woods, so they 
called it 'Longwood,' but I do not know where the name of St. 
Helena was secured." 

"I can tell you that. When Colonel Bryan lived here, he 
called it Bonaparte, but his daughters objected to the name and 
begged their father to change it, so he changed it to St. Helena 
from the name of the island to which Bonaparte was exiled." 

"Well, sir, I have enjoyed our chat very much, and wish 
to thank you very kindly for the information you have given me. 
H my little grandson is ready, we will continue our walk. ' 

"Grandpa, was Colonel Arthur Bryan in an army?" 

"Yes, he was a colonel in the English army before he moved 
to the United States." 

"During the War of 1812, he lived here, and I know he 
watched the soldiers as they marched toward Baltimore." 

"Isn't that a church on the next avenue, grandpa? ' 

"Yes, that is the Presbyterian church, it was built in 1898. 
They held Sunday school in that house next to it for quite a long 
time before the church was built. Let us see what they call that 
avenue. Oh, yes, Patapsco avenue, they named it for the river 
which flows down the western side of St. Helena. Look across 
there, Gordon, and you can see "Fort Carroll." 

"Well, my little man, you have seen the place where grandpa 
lived when he was a little boy. Let vis walk down St. Helena 
avenue, across the field to the electric car station and go home 
that way." 

"Grandpa, there goes an electric car along that track near 
the river and there is a bridge across to Riverview. Might we 
go home that way?" 

"Yes, but it takes longer. That car line was built in 1805, 
and is not used much since this one on the east side was built, be- 
cause this is a more direct route to Baltimore." 

M. Annie Grace. 



ONCK UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 219 

HISTORY OF ESSEX— PAST AND PRESENT. 
1750— 1908. 

Along the beautiful shores of Back River lies the Paradise 
Farm. There stands the old colonial farmhouse, built a century 
and a half ago of hand-made bricks brought from England. Para- 
dise Farm was originally a large tract of 1700 acres, and was 
owned by Mr. Taylor. In 1870 Mr. Tuchton rented this farm 
and lived there unt'l his death last spring. Much of the farm 
was then in woodland and the only way to the outside world was 
a woods road which went around the head of Middle River. 
Seven y^ars later a wooden bridge was built across Back River 
and the present road made- .The bridge has been replaced by a 
fine concrete structure. 

Forty years ago a club house was opened at Cove's Point and 
is still a pleasure resort. Paradise Farm itself once had a club 
house. Ten years after Cove Point opened land was sold for 
the colored church, and a store was built ; this store is now 
known as Josenhan's. 

In 1895 the trolley company extended its tracks into this 
part of the country. At first the terminal was Back River, but 
a little later it went on down as far as Josenhan's. 

Fifteen years ago Mt. Carmel Catholic Church was built 
and in the same year Flollywood Park was opened and has con- 
tinued to be a popular resort. In 1908 Chesaco Park was built 
and houses began to go up quickly in that vicinity. Little by 
little Paradise Farm has been sold, until now it is only a few 
acres. In 1909 the Taylor Land Company laid off build'ng lots and 
in the same year Mrs. Shuster's house was built, the first in 
Essex. A few months later Mr. iHenry Guttenberger opened 
a grocery and general merchandise store. The next year more 
dwellings were erected, more land cleared, and more people 
were attracted to this part of the country. 

In January, 19 13, the public school opened in a bungalow 
built for the office of the Essex Company. This school had 
twenty-eight pupils. The following summer the Lutheran and 
Methodist churches were begun ; these churches were dedxated in 
the fall. And so Essex grows — more stores are being opened, 
more land sold, more people seeking homes in the country. There 
is little of history yet to write, for the town is in its infancy; 
but we shall watch its growth with interest and sec its history as it 
is being made. Catharine Jackson. 



220 REAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

WAR OF l8l2. 

"Mother, I wish brother Frank would come, I do want him 
to tell me all about his trip." 

"He will be here in a little while now, Gordon, and then I 
know that he will tell you all about it. It was very kind of his 
teacher to take him to North Point this afternoon to see the 
tablet unveiled. I feel sure it will help him with his history-" 

"There he comes, mother. Oh, brother, I am glad that you 
are here. Now tell us what you saw.' 

"Well, when we reached the battleground at North Point, we 
found a large crowd there. They sang 'My Country, 'Tis of 
Thee', and the 'Star Spangled Banner,' then Mr. Koch, assistant 
superintendent of the Baltimore City Schools, delivered an ad- 
dress, telling about the bravery of our soldiers during the War 
of 1812, after which they unveiled the tablet which marks the 
spot where the battle of North Point was fought." 

"Brother Frank, what was the cause of the war?" 

"Well, Gordon, the English would not let our ships alone, 
they took our sailors ofif our ships and made them go to England 
to fight in their wars." 

"Why how could the English do that, Frank?" 

"They said that these sailors were English." 

"But were they, Frank?" 

"No, they were not, they were Americans." 

"Then why did the English send soldiers to North Point, 
Frank?" 

"Because they wanted to try to capture Baltimore." 

"Why d'dn't they come up the river in boats?" 

"Because they could not get past Fort McHenry. The guns 
there kept the boats from getting into the harbor, so they landed 
soldiers at North Point, who tried to march to Baltimore." 

"Who stopped them, Frank?" 

"Our American soldiers tried to drive them back to their 
boats, and that is what caused the battle of North Point." 

"Frank, d'd you go to the spot where General Ross was 
killed by those two men, Wells and McComas?" 

"Yes, mother; I expected to see the tree that they climbed, 
but they have been cut down and a Methodist church built there. 
I saw the monument that was erected a long time ago to mark 
the spot where the battle was fought." 

"Gordon, we walked down to the old Methodist church to 
look at the bullet holes in its walls. It was used as a place to 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 221 

take the wounded soldiers during the battle. Then we walked 
down to Bread and Cheese Branch, which is just below the old 
church." 

'Bread and Cheese Branch, brother, what do you mean by 
that ?" 

"That is a stream on whose banks the sold-ers sat to eat their 
lunch while they were encamped near North Point, and ever since 
then it has been called 'Bread and Cheese Branch,' because the 
soldiers had only bread and cheese to eat." 

"Mother, let us ask father to take us to North Point in the 
automobile and then Frank will show us all of these places." 

M. Annie Grace. 

THE BATTLE OF NORTH POINT. 
1812. 
In the year 18 r 2 there was a war between England and our 
country. England did not care about the new country, America^ 
and wanted to prevent our ships from sailing the seas. So they 
did not treat our seamen very well, and this brought about war. 
The English meant to capture Baltimore. How would they get 
to Baltimore? They must come up the Chesapeake Bay and the 
Patapsco. But how could they do that? They would try to do 
that, but here was Fort McHenry guard/ng the city. Then they 
must try to reach Baltimore from some other point on the Bay. 
How could they do it? By getting off their boats at North Po'nt 
and marching across the country. These were the plans of the 
British, but the Americans were ready for them. 

GETTING RKADY FOR THE BRITISH. 

People in Baltimore were not idle. Now, you know, there 
were no telegraph or telephone wires in those days, but the people 
kept their eyes open. When the Brit'sh ships were seen afar 
off, messengers on horseback hurried with the news. Beacon fires 
were burned on the hills to let the people know. So Baltimore 
was warned and got ready. Nearly every man and boy in the 
country and in the town entered the ranks, and when the time 
came, seven thousand men marched to meet the enemy. 

Twice the soldiers in Baltimore heard they were com-'ng, 
and marched down to North Point to stop them, but the British 
failed to appear. By these trips they came to know the country 
around North Point very well, and they threw up a line of earth- 
works across the narrowest part of Patapsco Neck, from Hum- 
l)hrey's Creek, to Back River. It passed through what is now 



222 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

the farm of Mrs. Jos'ah Bowen, and the grounds of the Bright 
Light Club, three miles from what is now Fort Howard, and 
crossed the North Point road on a little rise of ground at the 
Eastern boundary of the Bright Light. 

It was arranged that the signal indicat'ng that the British 
were in sight should be a flag displayed on the cupalo of Capt. 
Ridgely's house at North Point, the highest house in the neigh- 
borhood, and easily seen from Baltimore Harbor. Tlrs house 
was destroyed by lightning about fifteen years ago, but the resi- 
dence of Mr. Roberts, just back of old Bay Shore Park, is on the 
same foundation, and Mr. Roberts' estate is still spoken of by 
the old neighbors as "Steeple Chase Farm." 

ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH. 

On Saturday, September lo, 1914, the people of Baltimore 
heard that the British were coming up the Bay. On Sunday 
morn'ng the flag on Ridgely's house gave notice that the fleet was 
in sight. In the afternoon a signal of three cannon shots fired on 
the court house yard notified the people of Baltimore, and our 
soldiers came together. The fleet, consisting of about fifty ves- 
sels of all sorts, anchored at dusk in the mouth of the river, two 
miles from shore. At three o'clock Monday morning the English 
troops commenced to land, rowing the'r small boats as near as 
they could to the beach and then wading ashore. The landing 
place is the low ground behind the red and white lighthouse. The 
commanding officer's quarters at Fort Howard now overlook the 
spot. The soldiers did not know what the Americans might do, 
so they laid down in the tall grass as soon as they climbed ashore, 
until nearly a thousand had landed. Then they arose to protect 
those who were still coming ashore. But there were no soldiers 
to meet them. Most of the people had fled, carrying their belong- 
ings to Catch's Mills, on the Belair road. The British numbered 
about 9,000 men, the officers and artillery mounted on horses. 
Ry 7 A. M. all were landed, and sold'ers began to scatter in all 
directions to see what they could find. 

General Ross was among the first to come ashore. He had 
given assurance to the Americans that as long as they remained 
peacefully at home nothhig should be disturbed. Some interest- 
ing stories are still remembered of some of the happenings in the 
neighborhood and are here'n related for your enjoyment: 

General Ross and some of his men went to the house of 
Thomas Shaw, on the farm next to Mr. Todd's, to get a few 
hours' sleep: 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 223 

He ordered the family upstairs and took possession of the 
first floor. When Ross went away he left his nightcap behind, 
which the lady of the house prized to the day of her death. 

A British lieutenant met Eleanor, a daughter of Air. Shaw, 
on the stairs and tried to kiss her. She broke away from him 
and jumped from the second story window. When General Ross 
heard of it he punished the officer by sending him back to the 
ship. 

As the British were leaving one of the soldiers noticed a hor- 
nets' nest hanging from a tree beside the gate, and be had never 
seen such a th-'ng before, he pierced it with his bayonet. What 

happened? "Where did you get you white-headed flies?" 

they asked. 

At Lodge Farm a soldier scratched a British flag on the 
plaster above the mantelpiece with the end of his bayonet. It 
could still be seen at the time the house was burned six years ago. 

The next farm is Walnut Grove. The fine old house still 
stands, and is now leased by the Crescent Club. You can see it 
by going to Bay Shore, as the trolley passes it at the back, after 
crossing Welchman's Creek. Being the largest house in the 
neighborhood, the British intended to vise it for a hosp'tal. Mr. 
John Jones, the owner, was in the American army, and his family 
had gone to Belair road, but two slave boys, Sam and Dick, re- 
mained behind. When the soldiers came in sight, Sam crawled 
up the chimney of the big fireplace, but Dick was seized and 
made to act as guide. He took them to the home of Doctor 
John Trotten, who was father-hi-law of Mr. Jones. 'This house 
still stands and is in the section of Sparrows Point set apart for 
the colored employees of the Maryland Steel Company. Mrs. 
Trotten had buried her silver in the garden and had planted cab- 
bage seed over it. These were growing nicely. The family had 
fled to Gatch's Mills, but left behind the homemade wines and 
cordials. The soldiers were afraid of poison, so they made 
black Dick sample all the wine before they would touch it. There 
was a barrel of blackberry w'ne that even he feared to test be- 
cause of its dark color. Into this the soldiers stirred feathers 
ripped from open feather beds, and then they filled the ticks with 
oats. The horses and wagons had been taken away, so the only 
thing they could do was to load their oats on an old sled. This 
they dragged to their ship, nearly four miles away. On leaving, 
they chalked on the door, "We have found very good cheer in 
Mrs. Trotten's house, and hope she will be at home when we 
return." 



224 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

In a few hours the party returned and demanded the loan 
of a horse and cart and some blankets, which they had seen 
upon their first visit. They promised the things would be re- 
turned if the loan were granted at once, but not if they had to 
take them by force. The loan was made, and afterwards the 
family was doubly surprised when horse, cart and blankets were 
faithfully returned. They then learned that they had been used 
to convey the dead body of General Ross to the landing place at 
North Point- 

WHAT THE AMERICANS HAD BEEN DOING. 

On the left before reach-ng Fort Howard is the Todd House. 
Here was stationed a "pony express" consisting of nine men, one 
the grandfather of the present owner, Mr. Thomas Todd. As 
soon as they were sure that the British intended to march up 
Patapsco Neck, they carried the news to General John Strieker, 
who was stationed with his army at Bread and Cheese Branch, 
seven m'les nearer Baltimore. They reached the American troops 
at 7 A. yi., the same hour the British finished landing. 

Geneial John Strieker started out of Baltimore that hot 
Sunday afternoon with 3,100 men, some wearing citizens' clothes, 
and few of them well-trained soldiers. 

Down the Philadelphia road to North Point road, then called 
Long Log Lane, went this group of determined men, reaching 
the old Methodist meeting house, just east of the Bread and 
Cheese Branch, and about seven miles from the c'ty. Here they 
I^assed the night. The cavalry was sent forward about three 
miles and passed the night at the farm now owned by Mr. Wil- 
liam S. Gorsuch. The riflemen were also sent in advance to a 
blacksmith shop, one mile nearer, almost opposite the present 
Monument House. The cavalry were to watch the movements 
of the enemy and to give notice of their approach, while the rifle- 
men hiding in the long grass and behind the pine trees were to 
worry them as they went by. 

The British had moved down the road from North Point 
and when General Ross reached Poplar Heights, he and his of- 
ficers took possess-on of the farm where the American cavalry 
had spent the night- Going to the house. General Ross ordered 
breakfast. He breathed his last a few hours later in sight of the 
same house. It was said while the British were here three of 
the American cavalry in their green uniforms were captured and 
brought before General Ross. They had been chased through 
the woods by the British, and were making their escape in a 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 225 

small boat on Bear Creek, when a part of the enemy discovered 
them and threatened to fire if they did not return to shore. At 
once one of them held up a white handkerchief and they rowed 
back. 

General Ross inquired as to the preparation for the defense 
of Baltimore city. They assured him that practically every man 
who could bear arms was enrolled in the army. About midday 
the rear-guard and the stragglers of the British army came up, 
and Ross left the farmhouse. The whole column then moved 
down the North Point road, and shortly after one o'clock met 
Major Heath's little detachment of less than 250 men at the place 
where the Monument House now stands. The meeting was un- 
expected on both sides. The curve in the road and the woods 
acted as a veil until the British were almost upon the Americans. 
DEATH OF GENERAL ROSS. 

Firing began at once, and General Ross, who was somewhere 
toward the rear, rode up to find out the cause of it. He had 
reached the foot of the slight hill (a few rods east of tjie monu- 
ment), and coming out of the woods that shut in the road where 
it runs down the hill, was passing under some trees on his left, 
when he received a wound that caused his death. 

Local tradition ins'sts that Well and McComas, who were 
lying behind a black gum log at the foot of the hill on General 
Ross' left fired the fatal shot. But they were riflemen, and the 
British authorities report that he was killed by a musket ball and 
buckshot. Moreover the shot passed through his right arm into 
his right breast. A monument has been erected to them. 

An English account sjjeaks of three men in a peach tree- 
One was in the tree gathering fruit. He jumped to the ground 
and all three fired. Ross was struck. The fire was returned 
r.nd the three men killed. The remaining cartridges were found 
loaded with buckshort and ball. 

Near the spot where General Ross was shot stands the 
Randall Monument, erected by the Mechan-'cal Volunteers to the 
memory of Aquilla Randall, the only member of ihe company who 
was killed in the skirmish. 

Ross was carried on a stretcher made of two fence rails 
from the spot where he was wounded to Po])lar Heights, a mile 
nnd a half back. But when the cart arrived, he was already dead. 
The body was placed in the cart, carried to the boat and ])laccd 
in a sack. The Americans were not certain of his death until a 
week afterwards. ' ■*\ ] 



226 RliAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

When Major Heath had his horse killed under him, and saw 
that his little detachment had the whole British army to fight, he 
ordered them to fall back to the main body of the Americans, 
who were now drawn up to about a mile behind them. 

The extent of these preparations dismayed the enemy, al- 
ready demoralized by the death of General Ross, and learning 
also of the failure of the fleet to silence Fort McHenry, they re- 
solved to retreat. That night, two hours after midnight, they 
took their departure so stealthily that the Americans did not dis- 
cover it until daybreak. There was a fruitless attempt at pur- 
suit. 

At noon the retreating British reached the place where their 
f^eneral received his death wound. Without tarrying they pressed 
on to where the Bright Light Clubhouse now is. Here they 
spent the night, guarded behind some breastworks the Amerxans 
had begun. The officers made themselves comfortable in Mr. 
Yeiser's house- It stands on the right hand side as one goes to 
North Point, near where the Sparrows Point road branches ofif. 
It is quite a distance from the road, and is approached by a long 
double line of cedar trees. The present owner is Mr. Joseph 
Rodgers. 

The next day the march to North Po'nt was resumed. Todd's 
house was burred, and before night the last British soldier was 
on board the fleet. 

(From a paper (1907), by Rev. B. Brown. Loaned through 
the courtesy of Miss M. Rogers, seventh grade). 

Data obtained by Mahcl Dent Garrott. 

THE NORTH POINT ROAD. 

On the North Point road stands a church known as the 
Patapsco Methodist Church. It was built long before the War 
of 1812, but the exact date is not known by the writer. It was 
I'.ir'ed as a hospital for wounded soldiers during the war. Some 
bullets are 'mbedded in its wall, so 'tis said. 

In the same yard stands the oldest public school in the Neck. 
Mr- Thomas C. Jones promoted interest in public schools in the 
county. He was the first judge Baltimore County ever had. It 
was his brother, Philip Jones, for whom Baltimore or a part of 
it was first named Jonestown. 

The Battleground House is a h-'storical site located on the 
North Point road. It was used as a tavern in the Civil War. 

At the end of the North Point lies Fort Howard. 

William Peters, Seventh Grade, Sparrows Point. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 2.2'] 

FORT HOWARD. 

Should you like to visit a boarding school where the stu- 
dents in attendance receive salaries? Come with me to Fort 
Howard, named for John Eager Howard who at one time owned 
much land in this community. Here you will find a boarding 
school owned by the Government of the United States. At pres- 
ent there arc about four hundred sixty-four students enrolled. 
These make up four companies. 

But, you say, "Those men at Fort Howard are soldiers who 
have enlisted to serve in the army of the United States, if they 
should be needed." 

It is true that they are soldiers, but they are "learning les- 
sons" at their school, just as truly as you are at your school. 
There are many things that they must learn before going out 
into active service, and in order to become well-trained sold'ers, 
they must obey each order just as promptly as your teacher 
wishes you to do. 

Thvs school is almost a little city in itself. The grounds in 
which it is located cover about one hunderd and eighty acres. 

Here you will find nearly every building that you may see 
in an ordinary city. Just outside of the gate are the neat homes 
of the privates who are married. Here the little children with 
their mothers awa't father's coming at the close of each day's 
labor, and after the evening meal, gather about the fire, to listen 
to stories of the many wonders found within the gates of the 
fort. 

Along the main driveway you may see pretty cottages in 
which live the officers and commander of the fort, who receive 
much better salaries than the privates. 

There are four board'ng houses called "barracks." Here 
the privates sleep. Each one must make his own bed and cer- 
tain soldiers are detailed to sweep and dust the rooms for a cer- 
tain period of time. A set is also detailed to wash dishes, after 
the meal has been served in the dining room or mess house, as it 
is called. 

The second of these barracks is the largest, one hundred 
and forty soldiers being housed here. Each of the other bar- 
racks will accommodate one hmidrcd and eight. The soldiers 
laughingly call them the "liachelors' Quarters." 

Besides these household duties the soldiers have a regular 
routine of work. The bugle, which awakens them, is sounded 
ten minutes before 6 o'clock. At six, a gun is fired. This is 



228 REAL STORIES I'ROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

called reveille, or roll call. At this time all the soldiers must 
undergo inspection. The officers, who have them in charge, pass 
judgment upon their bearing, uniform, neatness, and punctuality- 
After reveille comes breakfast, then the soldiers go to their 
different posts of duty. Some to the household duties men- 
tioned, others to learn how to manage the motor guns, others to 
target practice at close range, or at long distance. Others go 
on a hike across the country. This is to train the soldiers for 
long, hard marches such as would be necessary in time of active 
service. These hikes are taken in the spring and fall. During 
the summer, shorter hikes are taken. 

Some soldiers are detailed for sentinel duty. There are nine 
sentries at the guard house. In this house, the soldiers are placed 
in punishment for some misdemeanor, such as not being present 
at roll call or disorderly conduct. 

But you ask, "Do they work all of the time?" Oh, no, 
there are two tennis courts on which they may have fine games ; 
also fields for football and golf. Besides these, there is a motion 
picture parlor, in which performances are frequently given. 

One building which is frequently visited is the post ex- 
change, at which letters from home are d'stributed. 

By the time that the signal for "lights out" at nine o'clock 
comes, you may be sure many are tired enough to go to their 
couches for rest. 

The soldiers do not need to remain at the fort during their 
recreation time. They may exchange their service uniform of 
khaki for the dress uniform of blue, and go to visit their friends, 
providing they return in time for reveille the next morning. 

There are many other buildings at Fort Howard besides 
the barracks, about which so much interest centers. Among 
these buildings is the hospital, to which the soldiers are carried 
V\dien ill and cared for free of any expense until quite well. 

The clothing department, at which the soldiers may buy 
their clothing, and the commissary department, in wh-'ch the food 
is stored, are both very essential to the comfort and well-being 
of the men- 

As you walk about, beyond the barracks, you will see the 
wireless telegraph station, to which many important messages 
come and from which many messages are sent. A little farther 
on, you may see the mach'ine shops, in which the projectiles or 
shots are cut down when too large. 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY 229 

A building, in which the photographs taken by the fort pho- 
tographer are developed, shows the independence of the little 
city. 

The storehouse, in which are stored the bombs ready to be 
used, is carefully guarded. Very harmless-looking, indeed, yet 
the power of destruction which lies lurking within them is well 
known. 

You cannot help but stop at the cable stations, where the 
cabbies seemingly end in the water, yet you know that a message 
might be sent through them across the boundless ocean. 

You feel that you would like to climb up into "M. Prime,"' 
as the watch tower is called, but no one is allowed to peep into 
the secrets concealed there. This tower cost $15,000, and is 
equipped with every convenience which would aid in sighting a 
vessel belonging to the enemy. 

Now let us visit the guns on the parapets. Each parapet is 
divided into batteries. Each battery contains from two to four 
guns. These guns are brought into firing position by lifting a 
lever. After the charge is fired the gun is lowered again. Ten 
men, besides the commander, are required to fire each six-inch 
gun. These batteries are named for commanders in the Army, 
hence you find Battery Strieker, Battery Nicholson, Battery Key 
and many others. 

As you journey on toward the gate, you cannot but wish 
that it was dark so that you might see the huge search-light 
casting its rays across the water, and see the light burning in the 
light-house to cheer the sailors as they pass out toward the sea; 
but since the day is quite young, you take the car toward Spar- 
rows Point, feeling amply repaid for your visit to this boarding 
school of our government where students who attend are paid 
$13 a month. 



CHASE. 



M. Annie Grace. 
April 12, 1916. 



Miss Amy C. Crevvic, Principal, 
Chase School, 

Chase, Maryland. 
Dear Miss Crewe: 

Replying to your letter of April loth asking for some assist- 
ance in compiling local history, especially relating to the Hare- 
wood property, I give you what information I have: 



230 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

The house on the property was probably built by Robert 
Oliver, who came from the North of Ireland and was a rich mer- 
chant in the City of Baltimore. His ships from the West Indies 
Islands in those days came up the Gunpowder River, bringing 
coral rock in ballast. Th:s rock was burned for lime to spread on 
the fields, which was then a new idea in farming. Pieces of the 
rock can still be found occasionally about the place. The dock 
at which the ships made fast was probably the cove at the north 
side of the place below the present railroad bridge. There is 
still to be seen th^ remams of a paved road leading from the 
building down to this cove. The most interesting fact which I 
have been able to discover about the house is that General La- 
fayette on his visit to this countr}' about 1830 was entertained 
there. The farm at that t'me embraced a very large tract, and 
was treated like the estate of a well-to-do Englishman. There 
was a brick gatehouse on the road running from Chase, probably 
to the railroad line, of which a few bricks may still be seen in 
the woods. Further in was a deer park. The region was some- 
what affected by the English invas'on in 1814, and not long ago 
I dug up a cannon ball. It may have been fired from the Eng- 
lish gunboat shelling the buildings. 

During the Civil War the Union troops were camped along 
the road line, protecting the bridge against the Confederates, 
and a gunboat was anchored in the river for the same purpose. 
I do not believe that the property was occupied before 1798- 
The original owner of the land was named Presbury. 
Very truly yours, 

(Signed) J. Hemsley Johnson. 

HOW chase received its name. 
.As Tom came in from school, he was whistling such a merry 
tune that Grandmother, looking up from her sewing, asked: 
"What are you whistling, Tom? Have you learned a new song 
at school ?" 

"That is our school song, grandmother, — the children l:ke it 
very much. I wish you might have heard them this afternoon 
singing the part of the chorus which says : 

And strive forever to make a success 
Of this, our dear old Chase School. 
Our teacher said that the boys could certainly make that part 
ring. And, grandmother, as they sang, I could not help wonder- 
ing why our town was called Chase. Can you tell me? 



ONCE UPON A TIME IN OUR TOWN AND VICINITY. 231 

"Yes, I can tell you. It rece'ved its name about seventy- 
five years ago. A lawyer named Charles Chase, living in New 
England, was advised to come South because of his health, so 
he came to Baltimore. A man living here owed him money. In 
payment for this debt, Charles Chase received a large tract of 
land, which comprised the park, the tract owned by Mr. -Lay, 
the present site of the stat'on. Later, when the Pennsylvania 
Railroad wished to extend its railway lines, Mr. Chase sold a 
right-of-way through his property. Because of that it became 
known as Chase's Station, and later as Chase. Have you ever 
noticed the picture of Mr. Chase at the station?" 

"Yes, grandmother, I have often noticed it, but I did not 
know that he is the man for whom Chase was named. Was he 
related to Samuel Chase, who signed the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence?" 

"He was not a relative of the renowned Samuel Chase. 
The family still owns a tract of land near Mr. Lay's store, and 
a daughter of Mr. Chase occasionally visits the old home of her 
father." 

"Thank you, grandmother. I know that my classmates and 
teacher will be glad to have this information about our village/' 

grandfather's story of the old school. 

"We had a hard time today finding a place in our school 
yard to play marbles," said Tom. "Every time it rains we have 
nothing but mud on the school grounds. Grandfather, where 
did you play marbles when you went to school?" 

"Dear me," replied the old gentleman, "we hardly had any 
place to play. Our school was located on the lot where Mr. 
Eckert's house now stands. It was only a small one-room 
building." 

"How d'd all of the children and teachers get into one room, 
grandfather?" 

"We had only one teacher, and there were no grades." 

"How could your teacher hear any lessons if there were no 
grades ?" 

"Our school was not as fine as yours. We furnished our 
own readers, and almost every child had a different story to 
read." 

"I think that was a strange school. Tell me more about it, 
please, grandfather." 



232 



REAL STORIKS FROM BALTIMORE) COUNTY HISTORY 



"We had no desks. Our seats were only rough boards, not 
nearly so smooth and comfortable as yours. There were high 
shelves, made also of rough boards, along the sides of these 
walls. Whenever we wanted to write we climbed upon a high 
stool and rested our paper or slates upon those. We did not 
use paper very often, because it was not finished as it is today; 
but when we did write on paper we used pens made of goose 
quills. Should you like to try one?" 

"Do you still have one of the pens that you used when you 
went to school, grandfather?" 

"Oh, no, but we can easily make one if you would like to 
have it." 

"I should like to have it very much." 

The old man helped Tom to make a pen by sharpening a 
goose quill to a point. 

"This is a good pen," said Tom, after he had tried it, "but 
1 think I prefer our own steel pens." 

Frances TiUjliman. 












CKbUL-pt-oAA. Cb\^*rt-\>-** 



n 



Dwa— 





« TowMH. IT CtAcr. Wainu. 1 



After Stage Coach Days 

THE STORY OF A STEAMBOAT. 

RUMSEY, THE MARYLAND INVENTOR. 

Maryland has been first in so many movements touching 
our national life that it pleases us to know that she is not be- 
hind in practical inventions. Though Baltimore County cannot 
lay claim to the home and birthplace of James Rumsey, who was 
born in Cecil County and lived on the Bohemia River, we are 
proud to learn that he invented the steamboat. 

Something like the above I observed to my friend one day. 

"Yet we always speak of Robert Fulton and his steam- 
boat, the Clermont, on the Hudson," said my listener. "No one 
has ever heard of Rumsey on the Potomac. How does it hap- 
pen that Rumsey was never heard from?" 

"Several reasons, no doubt. It often happens that one man 
works and Works without receiving the praise due his efforts, 
while another comes and reaches fame upon the round of the 
ladder placed there by the one preceding him. I am quite sure 
that it was Rumsey and Fitch who helped Fulton to perfect his 
invenf'on, though, as usual, the world has heard little concerning 
either of them. Fitch was a Yankee clockmaker, a genius in 
his way, and he, tco, built a river steamboat, but he was a dis- 
appointed inventor, and seventeen years before Fulton's boat 
appeared upon the Hudson, he wrote : • 

"The day will come when some more powerful man will 
get fame and riches from my invention, but nobody will believe 
that poor John Fitch can do anything worthy of attention." 

"The idea of the steamboat was in the air," laughed my 
friend. "It is not strange that men here and there began to 
dream the same dream of harnessing steam. But what of Rum- 
sey, of Maryland?" 

"It was in 1784 that he aj)plicd for a patent for his jiew in- 
venfon to the Maryland Legislature. He said : *I have been 
several years engaged in perfecting plans for moving boats by 
steam.' He had gained the ear of Washington, and that he was 
a believer in Rumsey's genius is shown by his certificate of en- 
dorsement, which reads thus: 'I have seen the model of Mr. 
Rumsey's boat, constructed to work against steam — have been 
an eye-witness to an exper-ment in running water, and give it 
as my opinion that he had discovered ihc art of working boat3 



234 REAL, STORIES I'ROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

by mechanism and small manual assistance against rapid cur- 
rents ; that the discovery is of vast importance, and may be of 
greatest usefulness in our inland navigation. 

Given under my hand at the town of Bath, the /th of Sep- 
tember, 1784, Virginia, George Washington. 

The desired patent was granted, and soon after he moved 
to Philadelphia, where he and Benjamin Franklin, the inventor 
of the Franklin stove, became warm friends. While in Phila- 
delphia he won the respect of all his fellows, scientists like him- 
self, and a "Rumseyan Society" was formed, the first of its kind 
in America. He was beginning to be well known, and a little 
later was invited to go to London to build a steamboat on the 
Thames River- Here he was busy and happy, putting together 
the first steamboat with a potash kettle, its lid bolted and soldered 
down, for a boiler. He improved upon this, however, and just 
before his untimely death he had succeeded in launching a steam- 
boat of 100 tons burdens. Both continents recognized the worth 
of his invention, and as late as 1839 the Congress of the United 
States voted to his only surviving child a gold medal in memory 
of his father's invention." 

"My story is a long one, I know, but one word more. Ful- 
ton was in London and Paris at the same time, and no doubt 
but the younger man listened often to Rumsey as he talked on 
his hobby — the steamboat. It is in this fash-ion that ideas are 
passed on from one man to another. Rumsey should have had 
the first honors in the great invention that changed the face 
of the world, no doubt, but in honoring Fulton we pay tribute 
to all those who did their share toward making the dream come 
true." 

"Well, at his home on the Bohemia River, every one was 
beginning to dub him "Crazy Rumsey," as usually happens when 
a man devotes himself to one idea. He was so wrapped up in 
his experiments that he spent all his money at them. He had 
his own forge and worshop in which to work out his ideas, and 
there he spent, most of his time." 

I^ULTON AND HIS STEAMBOAT. 
1807. 

One day a little boy was playing alone a short distance from 
the Hudson River. He could look up the river and see it gleam 
in the morning sunshine. He could look down the river and 
catch sight of the sailboats waving their sails in the breeze. He 
loved its shores, the running water, the boats as they sailed by. 



AFTKR stage: coach DAYS 235 

Today he saw something that startled him. What was it? Right 
in the middle of the river a huge black object was moving slowly 
up stream; out of it poured a column of black, sooty smoke, 
lie ran as fast as his legs would carry h:m- "Mother! father! 
Come quick ! A- house is on fire in the middle of the river. It's 
coming this way, too." 

All three were excited by this time and hurried to the bluff. 
Neighbors, seeing the commot'on, hurried after them ; and in 
less time than it takes to tell it a crowd had gathered to watch 
this strange craft come into view. 

One woman cried, "What is it?" Others were speechless, 
as had been the Indians the day when the Half Moon hove into 
sight. 

One old man sa-'d, laughingly : "I told you this would hap- 
pen some day. I told you so." 

"What has happened? Can you tell us?" cried one and all. 
"This boat has no oars, it has no sails, yet it is moving along. 
It makes noise enough to be some monster." 

"Watch that wheel as it churns the river into froth ; watch 
that smoke. It tells us that steam is the power that runs it," 
said one man. "Look at the man at the wheel. He is guiding 
the boat, but giant steam does the rest. Hurrah for the steam- 
boat!" With that, every one cheered and the men on board 
the boat waved back. Soon the boat passed them. The name 
Clermont could be seen upon its side. 

Not long after this, when the wonder had somewhat sub- 
sided, our little boy and his father took a trip on the steamboat, 
v/hich plied back and forth between New York and Albany. 
It was a happy day for the little lad, one that he long remem- 
bered, and this is what he can recall: 

"I waved a happy goodbye to my mother, who was too timid 
to travel in this way. I remember that my father and I watched 
the big wheels, and I asked him if he had ever seen such a large 
boat before. He replied, 'No, not on the river. It is many times 
longer than our rowboat.' 

"Just then Mr. Fulton came by, and he and father talked 
about the boat and inventions. I heard father ask h'm how long 
he had been at work on this invention. 'Nearly all my life,' was 
his prompt reply. When I was a little boy I built paddle wheels 
tor my fishing boat, and ever since I have been trying to turn 
those wheels by steam instead of by hand." 



236 REAIv STORIES FROM BALTIMORE) COUNTY HISTORY 

"Then father asked, 'Were you the first to attempt to put a 
steamboat on the river?' 

" 'Oh, no,' replied Mr. Fulton, 'Some one has been trying to 
solve the problem of steam navigation ever since 1543. or per- 
haps earlier for aught I know. I remember reading that an 
Italian tried to move a boat by steam, and succeeded for a dis- 
tance of three miles at that time. That has inspired others to 
try, and it has been a case of "Try again" ever since. When I 
was in Paris and London I met Mr. Rumsey, of Mar3dand, who 
was working at the same idea. I tried to build a boat that would 
steam up the river Seine, but it was a failure. The whole frame, 
machinery and all, sunk to the bottom, but I pulled it out again 
and tried to find out where the trouble was, and — I think I have 
succeeded in the Clermont. Let me show you how it works." 

"We went with him and watched the piston rod move back 
and forth, pushed by giant steam ; watched the piston rod con- 
trol the walking beam ; watched the walking beam turn the great 
paddle wheels. Here was steam, the same steam that puffs out 
of the boiling teakettle — only the teakettle in this case was the 
engine and many times larger. Here was the giant that had been 
as free as air chained at last. Yes, chained by another quiet 
giant, the power of man's mind, and made his servant forever. 
Source Old Steamboat Days on the Hudson, The Grafton 
Press, New York. Isabel Davidson. 

THE STORY OF A RAILROAD. 
1828. 

Something was going to happen at Elhcott's Mills. Such 
a strange thing, too ! Little Francis EHicott heard about it 
every day, for all the people were talking of nothing but the new 
railroad. Not one of them had ever seen a railroad, but it had 
been settled that they were to have one, coming from Balt'more 
straight out to Elhcott's Mills, a distance of thirteen miles. Then 
the road would go on from the Patapsco Valley into the Poto- 
mac Valley at the Point of Rocks ; and then, most wonderful 
of all, it was to wind its way over the mountains to the Ohio 
R'ver. The road was to be called the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
load, though it would be a long time before rails could be run 
all the way to the Ohio River. 

Francis was enthusiastic about it, but there were many who 
shook their heads and said, "It can't be done !" The old gen- 
tleman who sat leisurely on his b'g front piazza would solemnly 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 237 

shake his head and say, "The builders expect one horse to do 
the work of ten on the ordinary turnpike road. Even if the 
wheels of the coaches are to run on iron rails made fast to the 
ground, it can't be done !'' 

You see, it was all new and untried. Every one was fa- 
miliar with traveling by stagecoach, by horseback, and by boat, 
but no one knew anything about traveling by rail. To be sure, 
up in Massachusetts something of the kind had been tried in 
hauling granite and coal, but, this, the fourth road of its kind 
built in the country, was the first built for both passengers and 
freight. 

When Francis heard this he sought out grandfather on the 
porch and said, "Grandfather, the new railroad is coming. What 
fun it will be to see the string of coaches with a horse in front 
pulling them over the rails ! They will come faster than the 
stagecoach comes into the village, even when the stage driver 
cracks his whip and blows his horn a loud blast." 

Indeed, every one thought much as Francis did ; even the 
men who planned the road did not dream of the iron horse 
which has come to draw our long, heavy trains across the coun- 
try with such ease. It was not long, however, before Francis 
was filled with joy, for on July 4, 1828, the railroad was begun, 
the cornerstone was laid in Baltimore with all ceremony. 

In the spring of 1830 the double track, which had been laid 
as far as the Mills, was ready for use. A notice that the line 
would be opened to the public and that the fare to Ellicott's Mills 
and return was seventy-five cents, appeared in the newspapers. 

On that first morning a crowd gathered to await the incom- 
ing passenger train, our friend Francis among them. When at 
length a staid horse came trotting along, drawing after him the 
small but well-filled cars, Francis was the most disappointed lad 
you ever saw. 

"Grandi)a, it is just the old coach on rails. It doesn't go 
any faster than the coach along the turnpike," grumbled our lit- 
tle friend. 

"Well, it makes enough noise to let us know it is coming, at 
any rate,'' said grandpa, with a smile. 

Later in the summer something happened that was not at 
all disappointing. One morning at breakfast Mr. Ellicott said : 
"Somctliing is com-'ng on the railroad today, my son, that you 
will wish to see. Don't miss it." 



238 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

While Francis wondered how his father could take such an 
interest in the stupid railroad, he was on the watch with others 
to see what was going to happen. His father told him that a 
wonderful new horse was on its way. "A wonderful device, I 
am told," said his father. "I am most anxious to see it." 

"What is it, father?" asked Francis. 

"They call it a locomotive." 

"A locomotive?" repeated Francis, wonderingly. 

"Yes, a machine to take the place of horses in drawing cars," 
answered his father. "Mr. Peter Cooper has one built, and he 
is to try it today. You may remember that this is Mr. Cooper, 
who has copper works at Canton. Stockton & Stokes, I hear, 
will send the best horse they have, the big gray you admire so 
much, for a race with the locomotive. The machine is to draw 
much — for a race with the locomotive. The machine is to draw 
a car and the gray is to draw another, running on the second 
track." 

"Hurrah!" said Franc's, "now for a race! Of course, the 
gray will win, for every one says it is the finest horse in the 
world. Anyway, I am going to throw my hat in the air for the 
first horse that comes in sight." 

"All right," replied the father, excitedly. "Toss your hat, then, 
for the first locomotive in America that has drawn a passenger 
coach, for here it comes !" 

Francis never could tell afterwards just what his picture of 
a locomotive had been — something rather like a horse, perhaps — 
but certainly notlrng like that queer little black machine about 
as large as a good-sized chaise. 

"What makes it go?" he asked his father, in utter amaze- 
ment. 

"Steam," was his father's unsatisfactory answer. He had 
watched the teakettle on the stove, with the steam puffing out, 
but never anything like this happened. The teakettle did not go 
jump-ng over the stove. How could steam move that strange 
black object along the track? It was strange, indeed, but here 
it moved — this iron horse, at a rapid rate — drawing behind it a 
car filled with directors of the railroad and their friends. 

The gray horse was forgotten in the excitement, and every 
one was curious to see the locomotive. Francis walked down 
to the end of the line with his father, where a great many peo- 
ple were crowding around the little engine as it came to a stop 
at the close of the first half of its trial trip. 



AFTKR STAGE COACH DAYS 239 

The little train had come around the curves at the rate of 
fifteen miles an hour, and at its greatest speed had covered eigh- 
teen miles an hour. Some people were of the opinion that the 
speed could not long be endured, that being whirled along at 
such a pace would bring disaster. But every one on board the 
car seemed very happy. 

Mr. Cooper was a. happy man that day, and every one con- 
gratulated him upon his success. A gentleman had written in 
his memorandum book while the train was going at top speed 
this sentence; "A revolution has begun. Horsepower is 
doomed !" 

P'rancis looked at the locomotive — first on one side, then on 
the other. It did not look much like the monster iron horses of 
today ; rather like a toy beside them. The whole engine weighed 
about a ton, had four wheels, and, most of all, its boiler, about 
as large as a flour barrel, stood standing straight up in the air 
instead of lying on its side, as in the engine of today. This lit- 
tle engine was named the "Tom Thumb," and every small boy 
who saw it that day decided he would be an engineer and run 
an engine just like this one of Peter Cooper's. 

But what of the race? Francis was silting on the porch at 
home before he thought of the gray horse. "Didn't the horse 
come?" he asked of his father. 

"One of the gentlemen told me," answered his father, "that 
they expected to meet him somewhere on the return and to 
race from there to town." 

The next day Francis heard about the race. It seemed that 
the horse did meet the returning engine at the Relay House, 
where the race began- While the engine was getting up steam 
the horse gained upon it, and he was perhaps a quarter of a mile 
ahead when the excitement began. Th'is is the story of the race, 
as told by Mr. Latrobe, one of the members of the pariv : 

"The safety-valve began to scream and the engine began to 
gain. The pace increased, the passengers shouted, the engine 
gained on the horse, soon it lapped him — the silk was plied — the 
race was neck and neck, nose and nose, then the engine passed 
the horse and a great hurrah hailed the victory. But it was not 
repeated, for just at tlrs time, when the gray's master was about 
giving up, the band which drove the pulley, which drove the 
blower, slipped from the drum, the safety-valve ceased to scream 
;md the engine began to wheeze and pant. In vain Mr. Cooper, 
who was his own engine-man and fireman, lacerated his hands in 



240 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

attempting to replace the band upon the wheel ; in vain he tried 
to urge the fire with Hght wood; the horse gained on the ua- 
chine and passed it; and although the band was presently re- 
placed the horse was too far ahead to be overtaken, and came 
in winner of the race." 

Although the horse reached town first, the victory really be- 
longed to the locomotive. There were no more trials of speed be- 
tween horse and steam power. In less than a year the Balti- 
niore and Oh:o gave up the use of horses altogether, and in less 
than ten years there were about three thousand miles of track in 
the country. 

Our little Francis Ellicott, grown to a man, visited the Cen- 
tennial at Philadelphia in 1876, and there saw an engine weigh- 
ing fifty tons. He thought of the "Tom Thumb" and laughed. 
"The steam locomot've has about reached its limit," he said to 
himself. His son, Francis Ellicott, saw in St. Louis, in 1904, a 
freight engine which weighed two hundred and thirty-nine tons. 
He contrasted the monster with the picture his father had of the 
"Tom Thumb" of 1828, and glanced to the new electric locomo- 
tive not far away. Smiling, he said to himself, "The steam loco- 
motive has about reached its limit." 

Adapted — Stone and Fickett, "Days and Deeds a Hundred 
Years Ago." Isabel Davidson. 

THE STORY OF A' NEWSPAPER. 

1837. 

Did you ever hear the little ragged newsboy call. "Buy a 
Sun Paper!" "Buy a Sun paper!" Of course you have when 
riding in the car or walking along the streets. If you are a little 
city boy you know that — rain or shine, the "Sun" is there. Into 
every home in Baltimore comes the "Sun." It comes rcgularl}- 
now, a morning "Sun" and an evening "Sun," and is welcomed 
by all, large and small, one and all. 

"The Baltimore Sun" has a history. Its history is woven 
about the history of a family; the record of one is the record or 
the other. When you say the "Baltimore Sun" you think at the 
same time "Arunah S. Abell" and his sons, or at least your father 
and grandfather do, for A. S. Abell made all Baltimore proud of 
the "Sun." 

A. S. Abell was born in New England, but came to Balti- 
more when a young man, after he had started a newspaper in 
Philadelphia. About this time New York boasted of a "penny" 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 24I 

daily newspaper, but Philadelphia and Baltimore were slow. 
They still had the "six penny sheets." Think of paying six cents 
for a daily paper ! 

In the spring of 1837 A. S. Abell came to Baltimore and 
ventured to issue a daily "penny" paper. He believed it could 
be done with the kind of a paper which he proposed. In his 
opening announcement he said, "For the Common Good." And 
he meant it, and he kept his word. The "Sun" has served the 
public good. The paper was successful from the beginning, out- 
stripping its competitors in the neighboring cities, New York 
and Philadelphia. 

The first printing office was at No. 21 Light Street. Later 
it was moved to larger quarters on Gay Street, then to the "Sun 
Iron Building," which was located at the southeast corner of 
Baltimore and South Streets, being the first iron-supported build- 
ing in the United States. Now, an iron building leads you to 
believe that it must be fire-proof, and I am sure even grown- 
ups had hopes that it might prove so, but alas for hopes ! Wood 
will burn and iron will bend. When the great fire came, in 1904, 
the "Sun Iron Building" was swept by flames; soon in its place 
stood the wreck of framework, the rest changed to ashes — save 
those valuable records which earnest workers carried out amidst 
the waves of heat and tongues of fire. Today you see the splen- 
did "Sun Building" in its stead, which you may visit when in 
Baltimore. 

Mr. Abell was interested in all important improvements and 
inventions of the day. He kept a sharp lookout for anything 
that would help h'm to make a better paper. Pie made use of 
new inventions almost before anyone else had thought of them. 
He made use of stereotyping, electric light, the cable, pony ex- 
press, carrier pigeons, and, lastly, the telegraph. The submarine 
cable received his vigorous support. His interest in pony e.x:- 
press as a means to obta-n news promptly from European steam- 
ers, and from the seat of war in Mexico, led to the Associated 
Press service, which now supplies the leading newspapers of 
the world. Mr. Abell was the first to introduce in Baltimore the 
carrier pigeon service of delivering newspapers, which has proved 
to be of such convenience to city readers. 

I think I was more interested in Mr. Abcll's use of carrier 
pigeons than in anything else, that and the pony express, about 
which I will tell you later. He, with a friend of his, organized 



242 REAIv STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

a Carrier Pigeon Express to carry the news between New York, 
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and the birds were also 
traiiled to carry news from incoming steamships. If you and I 
had been living at that t'me we might have gone out to Hamp- 
stead Hill, where 400 or 500 pigeons were kept and trained for 
this work. This carrier service was kept up until the rapid flight 
of birds were superseded by the more rapid fl ght of news on the 
telegraph wires. Often the birds grew weary with their long 
flights, sometimes kind friends kept them for a day, and then sent 
them on their way, but they always knew the way home again no 
matter where they were. 

Let me tell you now about the Pony Express. When I read 
about it I couldn't help thinkmg of the Little Postboy in Norway 
and Sweden, the only difference being that in one case the trav- 
eler was a person, and in the other a piece of news. To obtain the 
earliest foreign news Mr. Abell thought of this Pony Express 
plan. Relays of horses were established from Halifax to An- 
napolis, Nova Scot'a (not Annapolis, Maryland, as you might at 
first think), to carry the news a distance of 150 miles, then the 
"news" was placed on a steamer for Portland, Maine, then from 
there by train to Boston, and from there to New York, Phila- 
delphia and Baltimore, or a distance of 1,000 miles covered in 
fifty hours. Think of all that trouble to bring a p'ece of news. 

I am sure you will like to hear about the Overland Pony Ex- 
press which Mr. Abell established between New Orleans and 
Baltimore at the time of the Mexican War, in 1843. By the use 
of the relays of ponies the trip was made in six days, br'nging 
the Sun the earliest war dispatches, with pictures of Monterey, 
the army and the battlefield, at a cost of $i,ono a month. But 
the Sun supplied the public with real news and kept the Gov- 
ernment at Washington advised as well. Don't you think Mr. 
Abell used every means in his power to make a newspaper that 
would serve the common good? You may be sure he welcomed 
the invention of the telegraph, which brought news so quickly 
and correctly, and you will be pleased to know that he was a great 
friend of Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph. The 
slory of the telegraph is another story, but you can remember 
that Mr. Abell and all other newspaper men welcomed the sound 
of the "click-click-i-ty-cl'ck" of the telegraph ktys as an aid in 
bring'ng news to them quickly and easily. 

Mr. Abell's deepest interest was in his splendid newspaper, 
but he enjoyed his beautiful homes, for. he had a city as well as a 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 243 

country home, the city home being on Madison street and the 
country home at Guilford. Here he Hved with his family and 
his sons grew to be men. They continued their interest in the 
"Sun" after their father's death. 

Fine words of praise have been given to Mr. A. S. Abell, 
the founder of the "Sun," by many, among others by Judge 
Fisher. You may like to read them : "He leaves a fortune which 
his children can receive without the sense that any part of it has 
been made by dishonorable methods or from grinding the faces 
of the poor. He was a warm, generous type of man. His news- 
paper will be a monimient to his memory, as it has been a credit 
to h'm in his lifetime. 

Source : — Scharf's History of Baltimore County. 

Isabel Davidson. 

BALTIMORE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS. 

The first newspaper published in Baltimore County was the 
"Maryland Gazette" or the "Baltimore General Advertiser." 
This paper was printed by John Hayes at his printing office, the 
corner of St. Paul's Lane and Market street, "where subscrip- 
tions, at fifteen shillings per annum, advertisements, articles and 
letters of intelligence, are thankfully received." The paper was 
a weekly. The earliest copy that I have is that of August, 1784, 
Vol. n.. No. 67. The paper was relatively young then. This 
newspaper is the present day American. 

In the papers are many very interesting articles. There is 
an account of Lafayette's visit to Baltimore in 1784, just after "a 
visit to the seat of Cicorge Washington, Esq." There is "Infor- 
mation to those who would remove to America. Lately pub- 
lished at Paris by Doctor Franklin." Most interesting is the ac- 
count given of "An Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of dis- 
posing of lands in the western territory." In the number for 
February 11, 1785, there is a very startling "proi)liecy rcspect'ng 
America, not unlikely to be fulfilled.' In every number appear 
advertisements for the sale of slaves and for the return of run- 
away slaves. 

The time of the departure and the destinations for the vari- 
ous stage coaches are dutifully given each week. 

A great part of the paper is given over to the arrivals and 
departures of vessels. This rather unusual notice appears on 
September 24, 1784: 

"The pro])rietors of the Susciuclianna Canal will please tako 
notice that another tenth part of their subscriptions is wanted 



244 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

and that they are requested to forward the same immediately to 
WilHam Sm.th etc." 

The second newspaper printed in Baltimore county w^as the 
"Sun." It was "Published by A. S. Abell & Co., daily at No. 
21 Light street, near Baltimore street. The price was one cent." 
The first issue was on Wednesday, May 17, 1837. 

However, both of these papers were essentially Baltimore 
City papers, even though at that time Baltimore City was in Bal- 
timore County. The first really and truly county paper was edited 
and published by Eleanor Church. The first issue of "The Bal- 
timore County Advocate" was at Cockeysville, on Saturday, 
August 31, 1850. 

Later on this paper changed hands and was known as "The 
Baltimore County American." Then John H. Longnecker pur- 
chased the paper and edited it under the name of "The Baltimore 
County Union." It continued under this name until it was pur- 
chased by the "Towson News," in 1909, and absorbed under the 
name of the "Baltimore County Union News." 

On January i, 1865, appears the second Bait* more county 
newspaper. This was "The Maryland Journal," published at 
Towson. The editor and proprietor was William H. Ruby. At 
Mr. Ruby's death, in 1905, the paper was sold to the "Baltimore 
County Democrat," a new paper. It was continued under the 
name of "The Democrat and Journal ' until 1915, when the com- 
pany discontinued publication. Snsinne P. Ruby. 

t THE STORY OF THE TELEGRAPH. 

1844. 

After the radroad, the telegraph. Time and space must be 
conquered in response to the growing demands of modern busi- 
ness. Some way must be found to communicate with your 
neighbor and friend more speedily than by mail, though that was 
improving in swiftness over the stage coach days. Who would 
think it out? A man of vision, surely. 

Two years after the iron horse had made its victorious run 
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad a young man, an artist, was 
coming home from Europe on board a ship named Sully. One 
evening he heard a chance conversation about the mysteries of 
electrxity, and he began to wonder whether words m'ght not be 
sent by this new kind of magic about which they were talking. 
The artist began to dream, not of pictures to paint, but of this 
idea that had popped into his mind as if by chance. Even before 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 245 

he left the slr'p he had worked out a system of signs. To the 
captain he remarked, "If my dream ever comes to anything, re- 
member that the good ship Sully was its cradle." 

Who was this young man? S. F. B. Morse, who then began 
to experiment, experiment, experiment. It takes money to make 
experiments, and he earned it by working at his art. In 1835 he 
set up his first rude apparatus in the one room where he cooked, 
ale, slept and worked at his model. At th's time he had students 
in painting. These students were interested in the old stretching 
frame, the wooden clock, a home-made battery, and the wire 
that stretched many times around the room. Their teacher was 
most enthusiastic as he explained its workings, and the ckck, 
click of the machine recording the message in dots and dashes 
seemed to them almost like magic. One student wrote: "We 
had little faith. To us it seemed a dream of enthusiasm. We 
grieved to see the sketch on the canvas untouched." 

But the invention was perfected and patented in the United 
States and France, after delays. Congress was asked to appro- 
priate $30,000, for you must know it takes money to build a line 
of wire upon which to try a new invention — Samuel F. B. Morse 
called it an electric telegraph. In 1842 he wrote: 

"I have not a cent in the world. I am crushed for want of 
means. I fear all will fail because I am too poor to risk the 
trifling expenses which my journey to and residence in Wash- 
ington will cost me. Nothing but the consciouness that I have 
an invention which is to mark an era in human civilization, and 
which is to contribute to the happiness of millions, would have 
sustained me through so many and such lengthened trials of 
patience in perfecting it." 

There were people, of course, who thought the money ap- 
propriated might just as well be thrown into the sea. Some said, 
"Send words along a wire! It is all tomfoolery. It can't be 
done. The sooner we have it tr-ied out the better." 

The earnestness of the inventor impressed many, however. 
He had often said, "Sometime telegraph lines will thread the 
country just as the railroads will. And if a message can be sent 
ten miles, I see no reason why I cannot make it go around the 
globe. Opportunity and money is all I need." 

It soon came to pass. The appropr-ation was made, and 
Morse was joyful. The good news was brought to him by Miss 
Annie Ellsworth, daughter of the Commissioner of Patents, and 



246 RKAL STORIES FROM BALTIMOKK COUNTY HISTORY 

he then and there promised her that she should send the first 
message over the trial Hne from Baltimore to Washington when 
the line was ready for operation. A year later she held him to 
h's promise. Over the wires flashed this message, "What hath 
God wrought?"' transmitted by the inventor. Just at this time 
a big convention was held in Baltimore, and Morse decided to 
show what service the electric telegraph could render. A man 
by the name of Wright had been nominated for Vice-Pres dent. 
Word was telegraphed to Mr. Wright in Washington, and he 
Avired back his answer, "No." When it was told at the con- 
vention that word had been received so quickly there were 
those who could not believe it, and forthwith boarded the train 
for Washington to learn the truth. 

The trial line was opened for business in 1845, niore than 
twelve years after the return trip on the ship Sully. At first the 
price for messages was a cent for four letters. Very soon a line 
was completed from Philadelphia to Baltimore and Washington, 
but many looked upon the invention as impractical and were un- 
willing to invest their money in it. Morse would have been glad 
to sell h's rights to the government, but his offer was rejected. 
Later, when the government would have been glad to buy, many 
people were financially interested in the business and they did 
not care to sell. It is pleasant to know that the man who worked 
twelve weary years to perfect the invention reaped a reward in 
personal comforts as well as honor. 

Source: Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals. 
Ploughton, Mifflin & Company, Boston. Isabel D'-widson. 

THE STORY OF THE TELEPHONE. 
1876. 

"This is the day of magic," said one at the beginning of the 
nineteenth century, and it has proven to be so. After the tele- 
graph came the telephone. Over the wires were carried the 
sound of the human voice, a marvel to every one. Today the 
voice can be transmitted more than three thousand ni"les. Today, 
too, messages can be sent without wires. Marconigrams or wire- 
less messages are sent every day from ships at sea and in the 
air. And the world waits in confidence that even more wonderful 
things may happen. 

The discovery of the telephone was an acc'dent, a happy ac- 
cident, we think. Alexander Graham Bell was making experi- 
ments. A wire snapped ; the sound passed through another wire 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS ^247 

which had attached to each end a thin sheet-iron disk a few 
inches in circumference. Could that sound be repeated? Yes, it 
could. Then the next question, "Could the voice be transmitted ?" 
Yes, it could. The first question over the wire, ''Can you hear 
me?" came clear. The answer came in excitement, "Mr. Bell, I 
heard you plainly !'' 

Experimenting went on unt'l a patent was granted in 1876, 
the year of the Centennial in Philadelphia, marking the first hun- 
dred years of America. Bell, the inventor, exhibited his inslru- 
rrent at the Centenn'al among the electrical appliances, and it 
ccme about in this fashion : 

Alexander Graham Bell was principal of a school in Boston 
for deaf mutes, and as examination days were soon approaching 
he did not see his way clear either to vis t the Centennial or Miss 
Hubbard, the young lady to whom he was engaged to be married, 
who was stopping in Philadelphia for the time being. He had 
escorted the ladies to the train, and was wa'ting for the train to 
steam away for Philadelphia. Miss Hubbard, much disappointed, 
burst into tears. This was too much for young Bell. He jumped 
on the moving train, sent for his trunks whxh were forwarded 
to him by his future brother-in-law, Mr. Hubbard. In one corner 
of his trunk had been placed the latest model of his toy telephone. 
"This is too good to keep to one's self," said Mr. Hubbard, the 
tather-in-law. "Why not exhibit the toy at the exposition?' 
And thus it was entered. 

The end of a tiresome day had been reached when the judges 
appeared to determine whether it was worthy of a place. 

They examined the instrument hurriedly. They did not even 
try it. "Useless toy," said one. Bell was near. His heart 
sank. Just as luck would have it at this moment there came 
upon the scene, Dom Pedro, emperor of Brazil, with his escorts. 
He was a scientist himself and looked upon the little toy with 
real interest. He had met Mr. Bell in Boston, where he had 
also seen the instrument at work. He greeted him warmly, say- 
ing, "Let us have another trial of this instrument of magic." 
So say'ng, Bell went to the other end of the wire and recited 
some lines of Shakespeare's, beg'nning, "To be or not to be. that 
is the question." "Wonderful," said Dom Pedro. The judges 
standing by had forgotten their weariness and looked at the "toy" 
with a new interest. It was permitted to remain on cxh'bition. 
"It will, at least, amuse the visitors," said one laughingly. "Good 



248 REAL STORIES VROU BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

for the children," said another. But Bell was satisfied, for the 
"toy ' proved to be the star exhibit at the Centennial. 

In 1877 the telephone was first used. The first statement of 
the Bell Telephone Company read thus: "The proprietors are now 
prepared to furnish telephones for the transmission of articular 
speech between instruments not more than twenty miles apart." 
The next year the first long distance line from Boston to Salem 
was constructed, and the first telephone exchange was established. 
Soon this distance of sixteen miles extended to one hundred 
miles, then, in 1892, a message was sent from New York to Chi- 
cago, and in 191 5, some of our friends in Baltimore who were 
in San Francisco attending the Pan-American Exposit'on, talked 
with friends at home. "Maryland, My Maryland," was sung in 
the transmitter and carried over the wire to New York. 

Thus time and space are things of the past, made possible 
by the magic of a man's mind. 

Source : The Thirtieth Anniversary of a Great Invention, 
Vaughn, Scribner's Magazine, September, 1906. 

Isabel Davidson. 
THE STORY OF A DAIRY FARM. 

BURNSIDE FARM. 

Burns'de Farm, a beautiful farm of about two hundred acres, 
the home of Mr. Samuel Shoemaker, lies in the Green Spring 
Valley, not far from Eccleston Station, on a branch of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad. This farm is well known as a successful and 
progressive dairy farm. 

The excellent quality of the milk produced here is due to the 
care exerc'sed in selecting the cows, keeping them in good health, 
proper feeding, extreme cleanliness, and care in every step of the 
handling of the milk, from the time it is' milked until it reaches 
the customer. 

There are about one hundred and seventy-five cows on the 
farm. They are fine looking cows, most of them be'ng fawn 
and white Guernseys, a few are black and white Holsteins. They 
have been selected because of their good health, and for their 
dairy qualities. The cows, as well as the men who work with 
them, are under a doctor's care. If a cow is not perfectly well, 
her milk is not used until she recovers. In this way the milk 
is kept pure, and so does not need to be pasteurized. Those who 
use milk sent out from this farm, get a pure, natural milk. 

The food of the cows consists of alfalfa hay, a very import- 
ant food, ensilage, which is made of corn and cow peas cut up 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 249 

finely together and preserved in large tanks called silos ; bran, 
ground oats, hominy chop, gluten, which is what is left of corn 
after its starch has been extracted; and beet pulp, a by-product 
from the manufacture of beet sugar. 

The stables are light, airy, extremely clean and quiet. The 
floors are made of concrete so as to be easily cleaned; the walls 
ire smooth and white. The cows' bedding consists of shaviitgs 
made from lumber, which has been kiln-dried, and therefore 
niakts a sterile bedding. 

The men who do the milking put on fresh white milking 
suits and caps every day. The milking is done quietly, so as not 
to excite the cows for it has been found that excitement reduces 
both the quantity and quality of their milk. 

There is a milk bucket for each cow, and as a cow is milked 
her bucket is weighed, a record of the weight being kept for each 
milking. The milk bucket, of a shape known as the small-mouth 
milk pail, which was invented on this farm, has a small opening 
a little to one side of the top. There is a lid which fits down 
over the top to prevent anything getting into the milk on its way 
to the dairy. After being weighed these buckets are hung on 
the little cars suspended from a track overhead, and carried by 
electricity from the stables to the dairy. 

The dairy, with its cement floors, coolness, and extreme 
cleanliness, is full of interesting operations. Here the milk is 
t.:.ken from the pails and passed through a machine which clari- 
fies or strains it. It is then cooled by running it over pipes 
through which ice-cold water is pumped until the milk becomes 
nearly as cool as the v/?ler. 

The ice used for cooling the milk is made in the dairy by a 
vacuum I'.e machine. In this machine about four-fifths of the 
warer sprayed i;"- is f'ozen by the very rapid evaporation of the 
other one-fifth. Sulphuric acid is used to collect this evaporated 
water and remove it from the vacuum maintained in operating 
the machine. This ice is perfectly white and opaque. It is 
harder and lasts longer than ice which is formed naturally. 

After being cooled, the milk is ready to be bottled. The 
bottles, which have been sterilized, are filled by machinery, twelve 
at a t'me. They are then placed under a machine which fastens 
on each bottle a cardboard cap fitting down over the mouth. 
The cap is kept in place by a tin ring which is pressed tightly 
around it. The bottles, placed in boxes, one dozen in each, 
fastened securely, are then ready to be carried by truck to the 



250 REAL STORIES FROM BAETIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Walker-Gordon Laboratory in Baltimore, or by train to Wash- 
ington for the Walker-Gordon Laboratory there. 

When the empty bottles are returned they are washed, two at 
?. time, by rapidly turning brushes which reach both the inside and 
outside of the bottle at the same time. They are then rinsed 
twice, and further, to prevent any possible carrying of disease 
from one home to another, they are placed in trucks and run into 
a pressure sterilizer where they are kept under a pressure of five 
pounds of steam for half an hour. The bottles are then perfectly 
clean and ready to be filled again. 

So, because of carefulness in every detail of the work, the 
constant looking out for the best ways of doing things, and some- 
times by the invention of some helpful device, this farm has come 
to be recognized as a model dairy farm. 

Source : Personal visit to Burnsides Farm. Elsie Hanna. 

MOTIVATION IN SCHOOL WORK. 

OUR PIONEER PARTY. 

AS GIVEN BY THIRD GRADE AT FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, REISTERS- 
TOWN. NELL YE M. GORSUCH. ' 

After talking with our seventh grade teacher as to the ad- 
visab'lity of attempting a "Pioneer Party" and the best way of 
acquainting the parents with the work we had been doing during 
the year, and thus forging another link in the chain uniting home 
snd school, we decided that we would give a "Pioneer Party." 

Miss Deal, our seventh grade teacher, was quite enthusiastic 
about it, and unt'iring in her efiforts to make our party a success. 
At her suggestion we planned an exhibit of Auld Lang Syne, and 
the success of the exhibit is due to the seventh grade, as they 
contributed most of the articles. 

Having enlisted the help of the seventh grade through their 
teacher, I asked my class how they would like to have a "Pioneer 
Party" and invite father and mother. They were wild with en- 
thusiasm at the prospect of entertain-ng their parents and friends, 
and it was hard to make them realize that we could not have it 
the next day. 

A party to the third grade means "oats,'' so this was the 
next thing they were anxious to discuss. When this subject 
came up and everyone was anxious to tell what they could bring, 
I told them the seventh grade were go'ng to help us, and I 
thought they would help us serve our refreshments, and we could 
dec'de what to have after we had our program ready and our 
invitations written. 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 251 

The history books made in the fall were brought to school 
next day, and the language period spent selecting stories that 
would compile a brief history of our home town in its infancy. 

What to do about music was a problem, but Miss Frantz, 
the second grade teacher, and the seventh grade helped us out 
of this dilemma. 

The next thing was to draw up a formal invitation to the 
parents. We took a language period to write the home invita- 
tions, and quite a discussion we had as to the wording of this 
wonderful piece of work. We had about decided to close it with 
the request for a story of Reisterstown long ago, when one of 
the I'ttle girls said, "I think we had better leave this out, for 
they might not come if they think we expect a story." Every 
one agreed lo this, and we decided on the following form : 

Reisterstown, May 12, 1916. 
Dear Mother and Father : 

We are going to have a Pioneer Party, Friday 
afternoon. May 26, at two o'clock. We want you both 
to come. 

Your daughter, 

Margaret. 

W^hile we were getting our letters written the seventh grade 
artists were also busy making drawings with which to decorate 
them. Everyone had a picture from "Ye Olden Times" to put 
on their invitation. 

The children thought it would be nice to ask Mr, Russell to 
tell us about when he went to school in Reisterstown, and invite 
others who had helped us with our history work to tell us some 
stories of long ago. Then, too, they wanted to invite Misses 
Davidson and Grace, Mr. North, our principal, and Mr. Cook. 
The seventh grade kindly offered to write and decorate these in- 
vitations for us, and we gladly accepted their offer. 

By the time the invitations were mailed the subject of re- 
freshments again presented itself, and we decided to serve lemon- 
ade, cake and mints. The seventh grade helped provide the re- 
freshments, and took all the responsibility of preparing and serv- 
ing. The day of the party they were untiring in their efforts to 
make our joint party a success. Following are some of the let- 
ters we received, and our Pioneer program. 



:352 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Towson, Mcl., May 24, 19 16. 
Third Grade, Franklin High School, 

Reisterstown, Md. 
My Dear Boys and Girls : 

I am very sorry that I shall not be able to attend your 
Pioneer party, as I expect to attend the High School Athletic Meet 
on Friday afternoon. I am going to ask Miss Davidson and ]\Iiss 
Gorsuch to tell me all about what you do. Possibly you will write 
me a letter telling me of some of the good things you have done. 

Sincerely yours, A. S. Cook, 

asc-D Superintendent. 

May 25, igi6. 
My Dear Children of the Third Grade : 

I was so glad to receive an invitation to your Pioneer Party, 
and if nothing happens I shall be there to enjoy it with you. 

I have read some of the interesting stories you have had 
this year about Reisterstown and the country round about, and 
I am qu'te sure you have had a good time finding out some things 
that happened long ago. Tomorrow you are going to tell us some 
of the things that have interested you most, and Miss Gorsuch 
tells me that some guests have been invited to talk to you of other 
days, so this is going to be a party where old and young really 
"join hands all around" in helping each other, isn't it? 

I am sorry that the High School Meet takes your principal 
away from the school, for while High School athletics are most 
valuable — and you are all looking forward to the day when you 
will be a high school boy or girl — still, as little Third Graders, 
we think our work important, too. Maybe he has been in to 
visit you once in a while and heard you talk about history, for 
all of this is history quite as much as the wars the big boys and 
girls read about in big books. 

Well, I am a very busy person this morn-ng and work waits 
for me. With best wishes to you, and your best of teachers, I am, 
Sincerely, Isabel Davidson. Supervisor. 

Reisterstown, Md., May 18, 1916. 
To the Members of the Third Grade, 
Franklin High School, 
Reisterstown, Md. 
My Dear Children : 

I thank you very heartily for the kind invitation to your 
Pioneer Party of Friday afternoon. May 26th, at two o'clock, and 



AFTICR STAGE COACH DAYS 253 

1 assure you that I should much rather come to your party than; 
go to Homewood, which I must do. In the circumstances please 
excuse me, and beh"eve me, Yours regretfully, 

Samuel N. North, 
SMN.AJE Principal. 

OUR PIONEER PARTY 
Program. 

1. Auld Lang Syne, Chorus Seventh Grade 

2. Indians of Reisterstown, a Drama John Baker 

3. Chorus Third Grade 

4. Early Settlers, a Drama. .. .Carroll O'Brien, Walter Boiler 

5. The Old Oaken Bucket, Chorus Seventh Grade 

6. Travel Long Ago Margaret Gies, Mildred Pohlman 

7. Piano Solo Louise Vondersmith 

S. Storekeepers of Long Ago. .Elizabeth Harvey, George Ward 
9. The Surprise Party, Chorus Third Grade 

10. Noted Visitors Edward Wyatt 

11. Franc's Scott Key, Jr Harry Vondersmith 

12. The Star Spangled Banner, Chorus Seventh Grade 

13. A Day in a Stage Coach Margaret Worrell 

14. Stories of Reisterstown. . .Mrs. II. Ritter, Miss Annie Dixon 

15. Grandma Dance, Folk Dance Third Grade 

16. When Grandma Was a Little Girl, a Drama. . .Edna Fleagle 

17. Memories of Re'sterstown Mr. Reister Russell 

18. The Dainty Step, 

The Garland Dance Folk Dances 

Girls of Sixth and Seventh Grades. 

19. My Country 'Tis of Thee Chorus 

20. Rrefreshments and Social Hour. 

INDIANS OF REISTERSTOWN. 
Time, Afternoon. Place, Living Room. 

Characters. 

Father. Sargent Williams 

John John Baker 

(Father reading, John runs in.) 
John — Father, today some of the hoys at school were talking 
about the Indian tools and weapons that had been found in 
Reisterstown. Did the Indians really live here when the while, 
people came to this country? 

Father — Yes, John, a tribe of Indians lived in this jiart of 
Maryland as early as 1514. They were great hunters and dc- 



254 REAL STORIES FROM BAETIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

pcnded on the animals for food, clothing and skins to cover their 
wigwams. 

John — Where was the village? 

Father — One village was southeast of what is now Hobb's 
Hotel, and a trail led from that village through Reisterstown to 
another Indian village located west of this town near the Falls. 

John — Oh, it was near the Falls that Roland found the stone 
and soup bowl he brought to school today. I am glad we do not 
use bowls h'ke that now. It was so heavy. 

Father — What other Indian relics did you talk about? 

John — One of the boys told us that his father dug up an 
Indian grave and found a tomahawk and a stone ax in it. 

Father — What did he do with them? 

John — He gave them to the Montezuma Tribe of Red Men, 
and they have them at their lodge, and Sargent said that his 
father plowed up an Ind'an cradle. Do you think that a little 
Indian papoose rode in that cradle on its mother's back? 

Father — I should think so, John, for there were many babies 
in an Indian village. Did anyone tell you about the arrow heads 
that had been found in the field back of the old school ? 

John — Oh, yes, and about the spears and tomahawks people 
had dug up in their gardens. 

Father — The people who lived here years ago found many 
spears, tomahawks and arrow heads ; but we seldom find any now. 
Would you like to know why the Indians chose this place for a 
village ? 

John — Indeed I would, and I will tell the class tomorrow. 

Father — In traveling these Indians followed the ridges rather 
than the low places, and the land on which our village is built 
forms a ridge between the land lying east and west of the village; 
therefore the Indians selected this place for a camping ground. 

John — I wish I had a picture of Reisterstown in those days. 

Father — Well, I will try to tell you how it looked. When 
St. Thomas' Church was built in 1743, all the country north of it 
was mostly an unbroken wilderness, where Indians and wolves 
prowled, and where wild deer were often seen and hunted. There 
were very few people hving north of that church in 1756. At 
that time the people who attended church on the Sabbath Day 
polished their arms and prepared their ammunition on Saturday 
evenings, and the next day at church placed their guns in the 
corner of the pews during the service. 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 255 

John — Tell me something more about those times, father, so 
I can tell the class tomorrow. 

Father — Another reason the Indians chose this place for a 
village was because game was plentiful. The hollows were filled 
with hares and squirrels ; wild turkeys and deer were found in the 
forests. And in the fall great flocks of wild pigeons came here 
to feed on the berries. It was a hunter's paradise. 

John — But, father, that is not about the Indians. 

Father — Not exactly, but don't you think it explains why they 
liked this place. 

John — Yes, but I want to know something more about the 
Indians who lived here long ago. 

Father — I will tell you about the last Indians who encamped 
near here. In 1830 about one hundred warriors, with their 
squaws and papooses, pitched their wigwams not far from Re:st- 
crstown. These Indians were traveling from the great west to 
Wash-'ngton to see the "Great Father." You can tell your class 
this story tomorrow and ask them whom the "Great Father" was. 

John — Oh, thank you, father. I know that the "Great 
Father" means the president, so I shall find out who was presi- 
dent then, and I can tell if no one else knows. 

(John passes out.) 

Early Settlers. 
Time, Afternoon. Place, Sitting Room. 

Characters. 

Grandfather Carroll 0'Br"en 

Harry Walter Boiler 

hiarry — Grandfather, who were the first people who came to 
Reisterstown to live? 

Grandfather — Well, my boy, that was a long time ago, but 
I will tell you the stories I heard when I was a boy. In 1772 a 
family of Germans by the name of Reister came to what is now 
Reisterstown to make a new house for themselves. 

llarr\ — Why did they come here ? 

Grandfather — They were Lutherans and they left their own 
country and came here so they could worship as they thought 
right. 

JIarry — Where d'd they live, grandfather? This house was 
not here then, was it? 

Grandfather — At that time the country was almost a wilder- 
ness and there were no houses here, so the Reisters had to build 
their own homes. 



256 REAL STORIES FROM UALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Harry — Then they huilt the first houses here. Where was 
the first house? 

Grandfather — Yesterday you took you shoes to the shoe- 
maker. Where did you go? 

Harry — I took them to Rrunda's. You know he Hves in that 
low, brown house opposite the school 

Grandfather — Well, that is the house Mr. John Reister bu'lt 
when he came to Reisterstown so long ago. It was a log house 
then. He also built a log shop back of his house, for he was a 
blacksmith and wagon builder. 

Harry — ^Did the rest of the family stay in Germany? 

Grandfather — No, they all came to America. They built the 
houses where Miss Jane Stocksdale and Mr. Zepp live, and others, 
T suppose ; but those are the only ones I know about. 

Harry — Did any other families come here to live? 

Grandfather — Soon a number of families were living here. 
The house now occupied by Mr. James Berryman was built by 
Jacob Bern for Solomon Choate, who kept a store and made 
bricks. 

Harry — The house where Mr. Naylor lives is an old house. 
It was built in 1779. I saw the date on one of the bricks. But 
I do not know who built it. 

Grandfather — It was built by Mr. Beckley, who was a black- 
smith. His shop was back of the house. Mr. Dixon built a house 
the same year, and he, too, had a shop, but he made nails, tor 
which h's neighbor paid him seventy-five cents a pound. 

Harry — I think that was a lot to pay for nails. 

Grandfather — Well it took much longer to make nails than it 
does now. Why, Harry, he got a dollar a pound for horseshoe 
nails. 

Harry — Were all the people who settled here blacksmiths? 

Grandfather — No, indeed, my boy, and the blacksmiths were 
farmers, too. Most of them owned large tracts of land. The 
Moales bu-ilt the store now occupied by Mr. Gies, and the hotel 
at the northern end of the village now kept by Mr. John Devese. 
There were several taverns, as they were called, in Reisterstown. 
The Forneys had a large mansion not far from your school. 
People traveling in carriages or stage coaches used to stop at 
Forney's. The Forney tavern was known by all travelers from 
Pittsburgh to Baltimore, and we must not forget the Yellow 
Tavern, so called because it was painted yellow. 



AFTKR STACK COACH DAYS 257 

Harry — Where was that? 

Grandfather — It is now known as Hobb's Hotel. 

Ha]'ry — Grandfather, do you know where Colonel Bower 
lived? 

Grandfather — Daniel Bower, like the Reisters, came from 
Germany. A large tract of land on the west of Reisterstown 
was patented to him in 1769, and until recently his grandson, 
Andrew Banks, farmed a part of that large tract of land. 

Harry — Were there any more people living here then? 

Grandfather — I think the Duckers, Worthingtons, Dixons, 
Johns, Moales and Beckleys settled about the same time. 

Harry — What kind of houses did they build? 

Grandfather— Those old houses were built of logs and many 
of them are still standing, but they have been improved. Some 
have been cased with brick, others rough coated, and then weath- 
er boarded. But it is easy to find the old homes in spite of their 
modern dress, for they are as near the road as possible. 

Harry — Why did they build them so close to the road? 

Grandfather — I do not know, Harry ; but I will tell you what 
an old man told me. He said that at the t'me of the first settlers 
land cost four dollars an acre, and as land cost so much they 
could not spare any ground for lawns. They needed it all for 
farming. 

Harry — Why grandfather, that was very cheap. Land costs 
a great deal more than that an acre now. 

Grandfather — Yes, Harry, now land in Reisterstown is worth 
a thousand dollars an acre. People only buy enough for a house 
and garden, but all the new homes are surrounded by lawns, for 
we do not like our homes on the road. 

Harry — Grandfather, did Washington stay all night in Reis- 
terstown, once in a while? 

Grandfather — That is too long a story to tell now. We will 
save it for another day. 

Harry — All right, grandfather, thank you for the story. I 
am off for a game of ball. ( Harry runs off to play.) 

TRAVrCL LONG AGO. 

The only avenues of trade between Ballimorc and tlie West 
before the railroads were built, were the turnpikes. The Reis- 
terstown and Westminster turnpike was the ma'n road over which 
the long caravans of covered wagons, loaded with produce from 
the West, journeyed to Baltimore from Pittsburgh, and returned 



258 REAL STORIES I'ROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

loaded with supplies for the western pioneers. 

People who wanted to make homes in the West traveled over 
these roads. Their belongings were stowed in the large wagons, 
and they trudged along beside them. Often a hundred men, 
\.-omen and children would take turns in riding and walking on 
or beside two or three of these wagons, on which would be loaded 
their boxes. 

At night they stopped at the welcome "taverns" along the 
road. There was a tavern for almost every mile of turnpike. 
'J'here were five of these taverns in Reisterstown, and at night 
the tavern yards would be filled with wagons, the horses haltered 
on either side of long troughs filled with feed, there to remain 
all night, while the drivers joined in the fun in the long tavern 
dining room. 

At night from fifty to a hundred Conestoga wagons lined 
the turnp'ke, leaving only room for teams to pass. 

In winter, when field work was done, the farmers took their 
teams and helped with this hauling. The roads were kept in 
good condition, and a trip between Pittsburgh and Baltimore took 
two or three weeks. Those were the days when the streets of 
Reisterstown were all day long filled with trains of loaded wagons 
(Told by Margaret Gies.) passing to and fro. 

TRAVEL LONG AGO. 

The road from Baltimore to Pittsburgh passing through 
Reisterstown was a stage-road. Like all those old stage roads, 
there were relays of horses along the line. Later a stage went 
from Bait-more to Westminster. This stage went down one day 
and back the next. It carried the mail. 

The only mode of travel in the early history of Reisterstown 
was on horseback. Seventy years ago all denominations wor- 
shipped in the same church, holding their services at different 
times. People came for miles around to Reisterstown to wor- 
ship. Everyone came on horseback as there were only two car- 
r'ages in the neighborhood. One of these was owned by a Miss 
Taggart, and the other by a Mr. HoUingsworth. 

(Read by Mildred Pohlman.) 

STOREKEEPERS OF LONG AGO. 
In olden times there were many storekeepers in Reisterstown 
who furnished the people with clothing and provisions in ex- 
change for butter, eggs, poultry, meat, potatoes and pelts. Every 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 259 

week the storekeepers would load this produce in big wagons and 
take it to Baltimore, where it was exchanged for the things they 
needed in their stores. These articles were brought back in their 
wagons. 

It took a long time to go to Baltimore in those days, and it 
cost so much to have goods hauled that the storekeepers had to 
keep many things in their stores. 

The counters were piled high with cloth, flannels, calicoes and 
oiher dry goods of the times, while the floors were littered with 
articles needed in the homes. People came from long distances 
to these stores. There was little money at that time and farmers 
paid the storekeeper when they harvested the'r crops. 

Captain Jeremiah Ducket occupied the store now owned by 
Mr. Russell. He was the leading merchant of the town and 
owned large tracts of land near the village. He was one of the 
Old Defenders, having been a captain of militia in the War of 
1812. The bricks used in the building were brought from Eng- 
land. 

James Thomas kept store in the building now occupied by 
Mr. Gies. He sold groceries, building materials, farming im- 
plements and also made bricks on a lot near the store. 

No doubt the oldest store in the village was the one kept by 
Mr. Solomon Choate, in the house now occupied by Mr. James 
Berryman. Mr. Choate also manufactured bricks. 

(Elizabeth Harvey.) 
children's stories. 
Aunt Beccy's Candy Shop. 

In the days of long ago there were some of the old time 
stores that seemed to be solely for the delight of the children. 
On the lot now occupied by the parsonage of the Methodist 
Church, was an old tottering shanty. where Aunt Kitty Mayberry 
sold cakes, candy and mead to the children, in exchange for their 
big copper cents. Aunt Kitty was very near-sighted, and some 
times the boys and pickaninnies would pay her with pieces of ]^ew- 
ter or lead hammered to imitate the fips and levies of those days. 
Oh, how Aunt Kitty would scold when she discovered the trick. 

Aunt Beccy Baxter also kept a candy shop and bakery in an 
old log cabin, which stood on the lot now occupied by John T. 
Pfeffer. Here she sold cakes, candy and mead to the little boys 
and girls of Reisterstown. 

(George Ward.) 



26o REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

VISITORS OF LONG AGO. 

Long, long ago before Reisterstown had a name, General 
Washington spent the night with Colonel Bower at his home near 
Reisterstown. 

The Colonel made Washington a present of enough cloth to 
make a suit of clothes. The cloth was woven on the Bower's 
estate from the wool of his own sheep. 

When Washington was leaving Colonel Bower asked him 
to name the village, which at that time was nameless. He gave 
it his own name "Washington." But this name only applied to 
the part of the town above what is now Hobbs' Hotel. The 
other part of the village was called Reistersville because so many 
families of that named lived in that part of the village. It was 
not long until the whole village was called Reisterstown, while 
the name of Washington was forgotten. 

General Lafayette, when he visited the United States after 
the Revolutionary War, spent a night at the Forney Tavern. This, 
was an old mansion house located on what is now Chatsworth 
Avenue and Reisterstown Road. 

Honorable Henry Clay was another noted guest who stopped 
at Forney's. 

Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star Spangled Banner, 
was a frequent visitor of Reisterstown, while his son owned the 
Elms, a large estate near the village. 

(Edward Wyatt, Third Grade.) 

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, JR. 

Francis Scott Key, Jr., the son of the author of the "Star 
Spangled Banner," owned and lived at the "Elms" near Reisters- 
town. 

Mr. Key came to Reisterstown for his mail and he knew 
everyone in the village and always had a pleasant word for all 
he met. He wore knee breeches, a blue coat with brass buttons, 
buff vest, low shoes, with buckles, powdered wig with cjueue, and 
walked with a stout cane. 

Once when his father was visiting in Baltimore, Mr. Key, 
with some of his neighbors and a band of music, drove a coach, 
drawn by ten iron-gray horses to Baltimore. Mr. Key and his 
friends surrounded by a large crowd which had followed them, 
stood under the windows of the house where his father was stop- 
ping and sang the "Star Spangled Banner. ' Shouts of joy 
greeted the song and men wept with delight. 



AFTIiR STAGE COACH DAYS 26 1 

A DAY IN A STAGE COACH. 

It was a beautiful morning in early spring. Birds were 
singing in the trees and the fields everywhere were dotted with 
wild flowers. Mary was too busy to hear the birds or notice 
the flowers, for she was going on a long journey — all the way to 
Pittsburgh. She was not going by train, but by a heavy old 
stage coach. 

Her clothes were packed in a little leather-covered trunk, 
and she was standing by the gate listening for the stage horn. 

"Toot! toot!" Mary knew the stage coach was almost at the 
door. "Whoa!" shouted the driver, and with a flourish of his 
whip brought his four horses to a stop at the gate. 

Mary climbed into the coach and her precious trunk was 
stowed away in the "boot." Another "toot" of the horn and ofif 
they dashed. Mary waved good-by to her mother and sister as 
the stage rattled over the rough stones. Ragged little slave boys 
ran along by the stage for a while, trying to get a ride on the 
steps. 

Everyone ran to the doors and windows to see the stage go 
by when they heard the horn. Mary waved her hand to them, 
for she was a happy little girl, and very proud to be taking her 
first long journey alone. 

The horses trotted along for awhile, but soon the road be- 
came so rough and muddy, for it had rained the night before. 
After awhile they came to a place where the mud was up to the 
Imb and the coach stuck fast in it. The men got down from the 
top of the coach, where they had been riding, to help the driver 
lift the coach out of the mud. It was hard work, and the men 
were covered with mud ; but at last they were ready to start oflf 
on their journey again. 

Soon the tooting of the horn told Mary that they had reached 
Reisterstown, where they were going to stop for dinner. The 
driver pulled his horses up in front of Forney's Tavern. How 
hungry everyone was, and how glad to get the good dinner of 
ham, chicken, vegetables and pudding, which the servants brought 
them in the long dining room. 

Wh'le they were eating dinner tiie driver was hitching fresh 
horses to the coach and getting ready for the rest of the journey. 
When dinner was over everyone climbed back into the coach, and 
off they started. 

They traveled very slowly for the road was rough and often 
the men walked up the steep hills. Several times they had to lift 



262 REAL STORIES EROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

the wheels out of the mud. Mary was tired and sleepy when 
they reached the inn where they were to stay all night. She was 
hungry, too. 

All along the road they had seen big white covered wagons 
loaded with goods for the West. Beside the wagons trudged 
men, women and children. There were dozens of these wagons 
in the tavern yard, and the weary people were resting on the 
porches waiting until supper was over to spread their bedding on 
the dining room floor and sleep there until morning. Mary was 
tired, but oh, how glad she was that she d'd not have to walk. 

Bright and early the next morning everything was hurry and 
bustle around the inn, for ever}one wanted to make an early 
start. 

One day of Mary's journey was over and she had only gone 
about forty miles. What a long time it will take our little friend 
of long ago to reach Pittsburgh? I think I like our way best, 
don't you? 

(Margaret Worrell.) 
grandmother's story. 
Time, Afternoon. Place, Sitting Room. 

characters. 

Grandmother Edna Fleagle 

Mary Lillian Embrey 

Mary — Now, Grandma, let's talk about when you were a 
little girl. 

Grandmother — I don't believe you have an idea what a queer 
looking little girl I was. I'll tell you how I looked. 

Mary — Oh, do tell me ! I want to know what kind of clothes 
you had. 

Grandma — I was a little "brownie" girl. Brown from head 
to foot — brown eyes, brown skin and brown dress. 

Mary — That was nice, grandma, everything matched — and 
you had a nice big brown bow on your hair. Did you have a 
pink bow for your pink dress? 

Grandma — No, indeed — no big bow nor little bow in those 
days. My hair was cropped off like yours, but it didn't take the 
barber an hour to trim it. A bowl was put over my head and the 
ends of hair that stuck from under it were trimmed off as quick 
as a wink. 

Mary — Then, you weren't pretty, grandma? 

Grandma — Who said I wasn't pretty? I can tell you one 



AFTER STAGIv COACH DAYS 263 

thing, I looked like you. My nose was just like yours. Listen 
now, and I'll tell you what I wore. 

Mary — I know, grandma, you wore pantaloons. 
Grandma — Oh, you mean pantalets. 

Mary — Yes, that is what I mean. One day I made panta- 
lets of paper bags and tied them on below my knees. They 
were too funny ; they went filip-flap, flip-flap ! and everybody 
laughed. 

Grandma — Nobody laughed at mine. They were made of 
cloth like my dress. They fastened just below my knees and 
reached to my ankles. 

Mary — You d dn't wear them before people, did you? 

Grandma — Really I did. No little girl in those days was 
ever seen without pantalets. They were no worse than your 
.>^hort dresses. What would my mother have said in those days 
to have seen your long legs sticking out of a skirt that only came 
to your knees. Whatever is the fashion is all right. 

Mary — What kind of dresses did you wear? 

Grandma — We had no such dresses as this when I was little. 
In winter they were made of homespun flannel, dyed black or 
brown. In the summer I wore linen dresses made of dark blue 
homespun linen. 

Mary — What kind of linen is that? 

Grandma — Linen that we spun and wove ourselves. You 
never saw anybody spin or weave, did you? 

Mary — Only spiders. 

Grandma — Things seem upside down now. Look at your 
waist, it is longer than your skirt. Think of it ! Mine came 
just below my arms and my skirt reached almost to my ankles. 

Mary — My, what a dumpy wa'st! 

Grandma — Dumpy, or not, it was the fashion and I wore it. 
It was tied together at the back with a string of twisted yarn. 

Mary — Grandma, did you wear short stockings and slippers? 

Grandma — No, indeed, we knit our stockings of coarse blue 
yarn. If we wanted them to look fancy we tied peas or beans 
here and there in the legs of the stockings, winding the string 
very tight. Then when the stockings were dyed there were rings 
where the strings had been. 

Mary — How funny ! Now tell me about your shoes. 

Grandma — Well, they were shoes, and that is all you can say 
about them. They were made from calfskin from calves raised 
on our own farm. Once a year the cobbler came to "whip the 
cat." 



264 REAL STORIES FROM LAI,TIMOK]'; COUNTY HISTORY 

Mary — What did he do that for? Poor kitty. 

Grandma — Kitty wasn't hurt, so you needn't worry. People 
in those days spoke of the cobbler's work as "whipping the cat." 

Mary — Tell me about the cobbler. Was he nice? 

Grandma — He came once a year with his tools, staying until 
he had made boots and shoes enough to last the family a year. 
I had only two pairs of shoes a year. 

Mary — Grandma, did you have a pretty hat ? 

Grandma — .1 had a quilted hood for winter. In the summer 
I had a sun-bonnet with pasteboard slats in it and I wore it, too. 
r'or best I had a white sun-bonnet with cord run in it. 

Mary — I saw them. 

Grandma — Where ? 

Mary — Up in the garret. In a big hat box. 

Grandma — I am glad you know. Now, when you talk about 
being little with grandma, you'll know just how you would have 
looked. Are you sure you would like to have been little witli 
grandma ? 

Mary — Were all the little girls old-fashioned then? 

Grandma — I see, you want to keep your short skirt and long 
waist and big bow and go back and have my good times. Nobody 
that dressed as I did was old-fashioned, she was in fashion, and 
you would be out of it, and so funny looking, that everybody 
would laugh at you. Maybe you don't want an old-fashioned 
doll? 

Mary — I do. An old-fashioned doll would tickle me now 
and for all times. Come on, grandma, let's make one. Do you 
know what to name an old-fashioned doll? 

AN AULD LANG SYNE TEA 
as given by the third grade at pimlico school 
Olivia O. Osborn. 
Have you ever given a party? Have you experienced the 
thrills of anticipated pleasure in seeing your friends enjoy the 
best your hospitality can afford? If you have you will remember 
the weeks and weeks of preparation ere the long-talked-of event 
could become a happy realization. You will recall with what 
earnestness you gleaned here and there a suggestion to further 
^he success of the proposed entertainment. Nor have you for- 
gotten the dark moments when doubts and fears arose ; when 
everything prepared seemed hackneyed and uninteresting and the 
prospective invitations seemed best unwritten. So it was when 



AFTER STAGK COACH DAYS 265 

they party idea that cuhninated in an Auld Lang Syne Tea took 
posssession of our Third Grade at Pimhco School. 

From the earhest days of September, when local history 
monopolized the attention of every member of the class, the one 
desire seemed to be to tell the home folks all about it. Language 
papers, drawings, rhymes and songs were dutifully carried to 
father and mother, and after each dramatization of reading lesson 
or local story, the wish that mother could see it was loudly ex- 
pressed, so I promised that some Friday evening, or perhaps on 
Maryland Day, we would informally invite our parents to come 
and share the goods things we so much enjoyed. 

As time went on the Seventh Grade became inoculated with 
the "Local fever" and we were invited to come down and tell 
them something about the happenings in our home town and 
county. Imagine our feelings as we filed into the Seventh Grade 
classroom one morning to explain to b-'g brother and sister some- 
thing they did not know. We swelled with pride as they ap^ 
plauded our humble efforts. Again and yet again we went, and 
to repay us several pictures, maps and drawings found their 
way to us from the interested Seventh Graders. 

"When can mother come?" "Perhaps Miss Davidson would 
like to hear our stories." "Maybe Miss Porter can come up and 
hear us sing our old-time songs." Such were the daily queries 
until I felt the party-time was ripe and must surely materialize 
if peace of mind was ever again to be enjoyed. 

With no assembly room, it seemed a very complex proposi- 
tion as to how we should entertain grown-ups in our Third Gradfe 
room. Again the Seventh Grade came to the rescue and oft'er'ed 
their quarters whenever we wished to entertain our friends. They 
planned to decorate the walls and blackboards with scenes of long 
ago, and, when one boy expressed the hope that we would have 
some "eats" at the party, the Seventh Grade girls begged to be 
v^aitresses and wear grandmother's dress in truly colonial style. 

As we embraced first one and then another of the ideas ad- 
vanced, our simple entertainment seemed to grow in dignity and 
importance until we decided that formal invitations were in order 
j;nd that our program must be carefully planned to meet the situ- 
ation in a fitting manner. Old language papers were brought 
out and selections made to compile a short history of our com- 
munity. These, it was decided, should be read by their respec- 
tive authors, our reading lessons were discussed and "Stage 



266 REAL STORfES FROM DAETIMOEE COCNTY HISTORY 

Coach Days" and "How Arlington Cot Its Name" were voted as 
fitting dramas for the forthcoming party. But where to get 
recitations and suitable songs? Here, indeed, was a dilemma. 
I suggested we might make some rhymes about the old settlement, 
so several language periods were occupied in making words sing 
or rhyme together in regular time. For seatwork each member 
of the class wrote a jingle which was read and from whicii 
selections were chosen for the great day. We then all worked 
together on a class poem and soon "When Hookstown Was a 
\'illage" took its place on the program. We had once played 
charades as a game, so we planned to make up two for this oc- 
casion. "Hookstown" and "Stage Coach" were developed by the 
class and acted out rather cleverly by selected children. It was 
hazarded that no one would ever guess them all but all the com- 
pany should have a chance to try. 

Now for the songs — What could we sing that would lend 
itself to the old-time atmosphere of our program? "The Old 
Oaken Bucket," "Home, Sweet Home" and other songs were 
mentioned. One child sang "The Old Oaken Bucket" very sweet- 
ly and correctly, so she was booked as our solist for the party. 
"Auld Lang Syne," "The Dearest Spot on Earth," and "My 
Country, 'Tis of Thee, ' were familiar to most of the class, so each 
day we sang them over until our tone and quality of voice and 
pitch would have pleased even Mrs. Low. 

Gustav, our little violinist, played "Silver Threads Among 
the Gold" with great feeling and volunteered to practice "The 
Rosary" if the party did not come off too soon. Our class game, 
"As Grandma Used to Do" just came in fine and all agreed and 
several children who knew "The Gavotte" created a sensation 
v.'hen they stepped it to the music of "The Glowworm" on the 
victrola. 

"My, what a fine party we will have!" said one and all, and 
"My, what a long program," thought I, with much misgiving, as 
our talents were brought from under the bushel to be aired some 
day in the near future. "What shall we called the party?" and 
"Who shall we invite?" next engaged our attention. I said that 
if we could serve tea "An Auld Lang Syne Tea" would be a 
fitting name as that meant long sgo. Everyone promised to bring 
tea, sugar, lemons, cakes and candy and all were satisfied that 
the "grandmothers" in the Seventh Grade should serve refresh- 
ments to our guests. 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 267 

Our program was in order and of something to eat we were 
assured, so it was now time to think of inviting the guests. I 
•suggested that it would be only courteous to invite the gentleman 
who had contributed so much to our history data as he would 
enjoy our poems and stories of things so real to him ; and, then, 
perhaps, if we wrote and asked hin:, he might talk to us about 
his childhood days in old Hookstown. So for a language lesson 
we planned and during a writing period wrote the following 
letter : 

Pimlico School, March 21, 1916. 

Dear Mr. Feelemycr : 

We are planning to have an Auld Lang Syne Tea and would 
like to have you tell us about your school days in old Hookstown. 
Please let us know what day and hour suits you to come so that 
we can send out our invitat'ons. 

Thank you so much for helping us with our history; come 
and see how much we know about it. 

Gratefully yours, 
R. s. v. p. Mrs. Osborn's Class. 

The child who made the fewest mistakes and wrote the best 
hand sent her letter through the mail to Mr. Feelemyer. Great 
was the excitement when a few days later the following letter 
was handed to "Miss Margaret Drake," our star letter-writer: 

Arlington, Md., March 31, 1916. 
My Dear Miss Margaret : 

Your letter regarding the Auld Lang Syne Tea was read by 
me with interest. I sliall be proud to accept your kind invitation 
to talk to the girls and boys at Pimlico. I leave the selection of 
ihe date to you and shall come whenever you say the word. 
I am very glad if I have helped you in your local history. 
Very truly yours, 

Griffith Feelemyer. 

We now felt free to set the auspicious day, so, after consult- 
ing all concerned, the nineteenth of April was selected and i :30 
P. M. was the hour chosen. A Seventh Grade artist decorated 
tlie invitations with sketches from by-gone days, and we, the 
Third Grade, proceeded to draw up a formal invitation to par- 
ents and friends. 

Everybody agreed that Misses Davidson and Grace should be 
remembered as well as Miss Porter, our principal, and I said 



268 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Miss Tall deserved one, too, as she also was interested in our 
history. Then Mr. Cook might enjoy our songs and jingles, so 
an invitation found its way to Towson. Replies — all acceptances 
• — soon came in from prospective guests and our efforts seemed 
indeed worth while when we read those wonderful letters. We 
talked of our popularity as letter after letter found its way to our 
door, and wondered what the postman thought about it. 

Final arrangements were now in order as the day was near. 
Mr. Brager kindly loaned us dishes and a patron took charge of 
the tea making. Everything was now in readiness, but the fear 
of measles laying some of our star performers low or of an April 
shower suddenly appearing to spoil the fun, made us nervous and 
bade fair to play havoc with our pleasurable anticipation. "A 
True Story of Hookstown" did seemed doomed to exclusion as 
the teller was ill," but an understudy came nobly forward and 
saved the day. 

The nineteenth of April dawned fair and warm and each 
rhild reported to take its part. The Seventh Grade room with 
its quaint sketches on board and wall was a rare setting for an 
Auld Lang Syne Tea. The guest of honor, with his speech in 
hand, in due time occupied his seat and other visitors were there 
when we took our places in the front of the upper grade room. 
The fact that just behind us were our older brothers and sisters, 
and that just behind them our mothers were watching and listen- 
ing, was the spur to success, and the program, a copy of which 
liad been handed to each visitor as he entered, and which I have 
faithfully portrayed on the following pages, progressed without a 
hitch. We enjoyed rehearsing to our friends the results of un- 
tiring efforts quite as much as their plaudits indicated their en- 
joyment in reviewing them. 

When our guest of honor, Mr. Feelemyer, took his place to 
talk of boyhood days the children's eyes shone with delighted 
expectancy which grew into uproarious laughter as he enlarged 
on some of his school-day pranks and games. He first spoke of 
"Auld Lang Syne," the gift of Burns, and dwelt on its present 
appropriateness. He told what Auld Lang Syne meant to him 
and p'ctured what it would mean to them in later years. The old 
inn, the stage coach, the well and bucket and other drawings ori 
the board took him back, he said, in fancy to the old days when 
he was a youngster in the village school house down the lane. 
He went on to tell about the schoolmaster and the games they 



AFTER STAGH; COACH DAYS 269 

played around the old log building. He spoke of the meeting 
house as it was conducted in his boyhood and later entertained 
his audience with stories of Hookstown fire-fighting. In closing 
he impressed upon all the importance of present-day gentleness, 
unselfishness and industry in order that our Auld Lang Syne may 
be peaceful, bright and happy. 

When the cup o' tea had been handed round with its attend- 
ing good cheer, and "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," had been heart- 
ily sung, we said good-bye to our guests and our Auld Lang Syne 
Tea became a bit of history in the archives of Pimlico School. 
PROGRAM FOR AN AULD I,ANG SYNE TEA. 

1 . Auld Lang Syne Chorus 

2. A Bit of Local History : Readings of Class Stories and Lan- 

guage Papers. 

3. Home, Sweet Home Chorus 

4. When Hookstown Was a Village Class Poem 

5. Original Hookstown Rhymes and Jingles. 

6. As Seen by the Old Inn Clock Seventh Grade Poem 

7. The Old Oaken Bucket Solo and Chorus 

8. How Arlington Got Its Name A Drama 

9. (a) As Grandma Used to Do Folk Dances 

{b) The Gavotte. 

!0. Stage Coach Days A Drama 

I I . The Dearest Spot on Earth Chorus 

12. War Times in Hookstown A True Story 

13. Charades: 

(a) A Name in the Town History. 

(b) Something Used in Days Gone By. 

14. Violin Solo : 

(a) The Rosary. 

(b) Silver Threads Among the Gold. 

15. Memories of Hookstown Days Mr. Fcelemyer 

16. My Country 'Tis of Thee Chorus 

17. A Cup o' Tea for Auld Lang Syne. 

A BIT OF LOCAL HISTORY 
ser.kctions from third gr.\de class work. 

Class Stories 

Our Nc'Kjhborhond Today and Yesterday. 

Arlington is a pleasant place to live because it is so convenient 

to Baltimore, our home city. The electric and steam cars carry us 

there in a few minutes, and several good and safe roads leading 



2/0 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

into town are used by autos and other vehicles. Many of our 
homes are pretty and up-to-date with every convenience. There 
are good schools, churches and stores scattered through the town. 
Nobody is ever lonesome here for there are many sociable neigh- 
bors all about us. 

Grandma says it was not always so pleasant for she remem- 
bers when the roads were rough and unsafe and no cars were 
here to carry her to Baltimore, which in those days seemed so far 
away. Her home had none of the comforts which we enjoy. No 
postmen brought her mail to her door, no policeman guarded her 
from danger, and no garbage man helped to keep things clean and 
healthy when she was a girl and Arlington a village. 

Read by Margaret Peeee, Age 8. 

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LONG AGO. 

Many years ago, long before grandma lived, our neighbor- 
hood was part of a great wilderness made up c f forests, bare hills 
and rivers with sandy beaches on either side. Streams filled with 
trout and other fish flowed among the trees or through fields to- 
ward the Patapsco River. Trails or narrow paths were the only 
roads at that early time. 

Not only wild animals but the red men of the forest helped 
to make these lonely trails. Many relics have been found to 
j)rove that Indians lived here long ago. Some of these tribes 
were very fierce and gave the early settlers lots of trouble. 

Read by Lh-Lian Griffin, Age 9. 
SOME neighborhood changes. 

Many changes have taken place in our neighborhood since 
Arlington was a small village. Early settlers have died or moved 
away and old and beautiful estates have been sold and cut up into 
building lots. West Arlington was once Belview, the large farm 
owned by Mr. Griffith. Anna Dale, Mr. iHarrison's fine country 
place, was sold for debt and is now Druid Ridge Cemetery. Mr. 
Wykie sold his hill-top farm Pimlico to the Maryland Jockey Club 
who turned it into a racetrack. Druid Hill, the handsome estate 
of Mr. Rogers on Stony Hill, was sold to the city. It is now 
cur own beautiful Druid Hill Park. The Arsenal on Reisters- 
town Road near Pikesville was given to our state by the govern- 
ment in 1819. During the Civil War it was used to store guns 
and ammunition, but now it is a home for old soldiers. Many 
tournaments and fairs are held there every year. These and 
many other changes have taken place in our neighborhood since 
Hookstown was a village and Arlington became a growing town. 

Read by Harry King. 



AFTER STAGE COACPI DAYS 2/1 

NEIGHBORHOOD SETTLERS. 

When white people began to settle along the Chesapeake 
Bay and in Baltimore County, they bought the land from the 
Indians who then moved farther west. Many of them died from 
disease or were killed when fighting the white settlers. The 
northern part of Baltimore County was settled by Dutch and 
Swedes, who came over from Pennsylvania and Delaware, and 
the southern part was soon filled with English people from Vir- 
ginia. State roads and turnp'kes were made so the farmers and 
hucksters could bring their goods to "Patapsco Landing" to be 
shipped to other places. Many white-hooded country wagons 
came down the Reisterstown turnpike to the harbor. Baltimore 
Town soon grew around this busy wharf where so many people 
came from all parts of the county and state to meet ships from 
other lands, or to send things to other people. 

Written and read by Lewis Hoffman^ Age 9. 

HOOKSTOWN A WAYS.DE VILLAGE. 

People from Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, who 
came over the turnpike to Baltimore Landing in their white- 
topped country wagons, thought it took a long time to go back and 
forth without stopping along the way, so Mr. Griffith from Penn- 
sylvania built a wayside tavern just over the top of Stony Hill, 
and called it "The Three Mile House." Soon Mr. Hook, an- 
other traveler, got tired of the long journey from Pennsylvania to 
Baltimore, so he brought his family and settled near Griffith's 
inn on the old road. It wasn't long before others of the Hook 
family began to build log houses along the way to Baltimore, so 
the Reisterstown turnp.ke became the Hookstown road. About 
iSoo more than fifty families lived in Hookstown village near 
Stony Hill. All about the settlement for many miles wealthy 
sportsmen owned large estates. Horse-racing, tournaments, fairs 
and hunts took much of their time. Just opposite the "Three 
Mile House" was "The Hammet House" for gentlemen, where 
the country sports spent many jolly hours talking over their ad- 
ventures. 

Written as a class story; read by Ella Holland. 

EARLY TRAVEL IN OUR TOWN. 

For many years the people of Hookstown had no cars to 
travel in. Hucksters came through the village in white-hooded 
country wagons on their way to market in Baltimore Town. 
Father Smith and his friends used the stage coacn. They got on 
at Mr. Feclemyer's postofticc, where it stopped on its way to 



2/2 RliAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

Pennsylvania from the Hand House on Paca Street. The stage 
coach brought the mail to people who lived along its route. "Oh, ' 
said everybody, "the coach is so slow," and soon some people 
started the horse-car up Stony Hill to Pikesville. "Now we can 
travel fast," they all said, "for the Western Maryland Railroad 
is coming through here, too." But it did not stop in Hookstown 
except on racing days because there was no station, so the little 
horse car brought great crowds over the hill from Baltimore each 
day. "Let us have a station so the trains can stop here?" some- 
one asked the railroad company. They got what they wanted in 
1 87 1, and after that people about here went very quickly into 
Baltimore or up the country to Pennsylvania. 

Written and read by Mary Franklin, Age 9. 

THE OLD MEETING HOUSE. 

Most of the early settlers were Methodist. Father Smith 
and Father Kane were preachers in the Methodist Church. They 
used to hold prayer-meetings at the people's homes. Pilgrim's 
Rest, Father Smith's house was the best place, because it was 
larger than some of the others in the village. The people had 
servants and slaves and they brought them to prayer-meetings to 
learn to sing and pray. 

About 1 81 5 Father Smith and some of the neighbors built a 
stone chapel back of Pilgrim's Rest and called it McKendree, 
after a good bishop. They built a gallery in the back for the 
black slaves. They had no music except a tuning fork to sing 
by and three or four people sang from one book. This old chapel 
had no furnace but was heated by two stoves. They got light by 
burning oil lamps. The villagers came to meetings when the bell 
in the steeple rang. This bell tolled when anyone was buried in 
the village grave yard around the chapel. Nearly all the old 
HookstOAvn folks are buried in this old church yard. Even the 
slaves' graves are here. 

Hookstown grew to be Arlington, so in 1895 a large marble 
church was built on the pike opposite Godlove Kane's old house 
where the big oak tree makes a pleasant shade. 

Written and read by Margaret Drake, Age 9. 

HOW ARLINTON GOT ITS NAME. 

The other day when we went for our walk we saw some of 
the old tombstones where many people died in Hookstown and 
many had gone away, too. Other people came here and bought 
some land from the people to build a race-track. This made the 
good Methodist people who lived here very unhappy, because the 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 273 

people were losing faith in the church. These men had to build 
a platform so that they would not get their feet wet on rainy days. 
They got the train to stop there on the day that they had the 
races. One day the villagers all got together in the log school 
house to see what they would call Hookstown. They said "we 
can't call it Hookstown because they have all died and some went 
away, so," they said, "it would not be right to call it that.' The 
school-master wrote all the names on the blackboard, everyone 
had a name, all of them were so good that they did not know 
which one to choose. They asked a little Jew named Douglas 
and he said, "I vote that it should be called Arlington after the 
home of the great George Washington." The little Jew made a 
mistake in his history, but it was a hit with the people, so they 
called it Arlington. 

Written and read by Rosalie Rhodes, Age 9. 

ARLINGTON FIRE-FIGHTERS. 

In Hookstown long ago they did not have as nice a fire 
company as we do now. They had a horn, and people would 
blow two blasts for fire and three for burglars. They had 
buckets and v.hen they had a fire the people would pick up the 
bucket and fill it with water and put out the fire if they could. 

In later t;mes they did not have bucket brigades, they had a 
nice fire company.. They had a fire line, but they did not have 
anything to force, the water up so far as the houses, so they had 
a tank on the fire-engine and in this tank was used vitrol and soda 
to force the water up to the houses. 

In later days yet the county said that Arlington deserved a 
better fire company and so the county gave an auto truck and 
some men, and now we have the best fire company of all. 

Written and read by Jane Inglis, Age 8. 

OUR WATER supply. 

Long ago when Hookstown was a very small village, people 
got their water from wells by letting a bucket down by a windlass, 
they also got their water from pumps and springs. After a while 
some wealthy people settled in Hookstown and bored through 
rocks and earth to the underground streams which were called 
artesian wells. 

Today our water is forced into standpipcs or reservoirs by 
pumps and worked by engines or windmills. They are carried in 
pipes under the ground to our homes. The sjiigots allow our 
water to run out as we need it. 

Written and read by HELEN WorTiiam, Age 9. 



274 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

ARLINGTON, A CLEAN AND HEALTHY TOWN. 

In early Hookstown days they did not have any garbage man 
or sewer pipes. They had a swill barrel for the hogs. The 
things that they did not want they burned them and that it what 
they used for the gardens. The people were getting malaria from 
mosquitoes, typhoid fever from bad water, cholera from bad 
drainage. 

Today we have a garbage collector appointed by the county. 
There are many men with carts under collectors to clean up all 
refuse or garbage. A health officer goes around and looks to see 
if there is any kind of diseases and he looks for it and reports 
it to Towson. Large pipes are laid in big streets to carry off 
refuse. 

Written and read by Dorothy Brown, Age 9. 

WHEN hookstown WAS A VILLAGE. 

When our home town we know so well, 

Was nothing but a forest dell, 

Fierce Indians roamed their hunting grounds 

Where later Hookstown stood a village. 

From far and near shrewd settlers came 

And from the Indians sought a claim ; 

They planned and delved a farming land 

Where later Hookstown was a village. 

'J'hcn Mr. Flook with heavy load. 

Came o'er the turnpike's stony road, 

To bring his goods to Baltimore, 

Ere Hookstown was a village. 

Then settled he near Stony Hill, 

To have more time his land to till ; 

Soon many friends began to fdl 

The land where Hookstown stood a village. 

Then Father Smith the settlers fired 

To worthy deeds and never tired 

Until McKendree chapel stood 

Where Hookstown was a village. 

Soon sportsmen sought the near-by turf, 

Of Pimlico's hard level earth ; 

And racing, not the chapel led 

The lads in Hookstown village. 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAYS 275 

The churchmen said that Pimhco, 
Upon the map should never go ; 
When votes were claimed — twas Arlington, 
Not Hookstown, was the village. 
Now horse-cars did the fash'on lead, 
And with the railroad hastened speed ; 
Although the stage-coach ne'er seemed slow 
When Hookstown was a village. 
Soon Arlington, our growing town. 
Spread many, many miles around ; 
Now old folks dream of days of yore, 
When Hookstown was a village. 

(Complied as a class poem from history data.) 
HOOKSTOWN RHYMES AND JINGLES 
The History of Our Town. 
Before Columbus sailed the sea. 
To find this land for you and me, 
This place was Ind'an hunting-grounds 
For many many miles around. 
Then settlers came down the turnpike road 
In white-covered wagons with heavy load. 
Later more settlers came down the p'ke 
And farming was the work they liked 
The road they settled up and down 
■ Till Arlington bccanie a town. 

LiNEAu Robertson, Age 9. 
A Dense Forest. 
Long ago in Indian times before Arlington got its name. 
Before Columbus sailed the seas or John Smith landed near the 

James. 
There was no school where we could go 
There was no school called Pimlico. Lant GlEn, Age 9. 
The Old Road. 
In Hookstown once there was a road 

Of broken stone and clay 
And when you traveled to and fro 

You always had to pay 
But now it is a grand smooth street 

On which we travel free 
So that old road has seen its days 
I know Nou'll all agree. 

Ros.\LiE Rhodes, Age 9. 



2/6 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

HooKSTowN Village. 
When Hookstown was a village 

In the days of long ago 
The people liked it very much 
But we think it was so slow. 
When Hookstown was a village 

And nothing was so swell 
This place was nothing but 
A hunting ground and dell. 

Mary Franklin, Age 8. 
HOW ARLINGTON GOT ITS NAME. 
Today the teacher asked us to write a poem fine 
About the days of Hookstown as it was in olden times 
As I have lived in Jersey all the years except this one 
I could hardly be expected to know much of ArHngton ! 
Although a Jew they told me gave to Arlington its name 
It has always been a standing joke that gave the town much fame. 
For he named it as the birthplace of the great George Washington 
But instead of Mt. Vernon he called it Arlington 
This is all that I remember but I hope you won't forget 
That I've only lived in Arlington a very short time as yet. 

Helen Post, Age lo. 
Hookstown days were old-fashioned ways 
And far behind the present days 
But I'm pleased to state we are more up-to-date 
In each and every way. Bennett Ensor, Age 9. 
Our Town. 
This little town of ours where Indians used to be 
Has grown, and grown, and grown as you can readily see 
\\^here once were woods with forest trees 
Pretty homes, schools and churches have we 
To wells and springs the Hookstown folks nuist go, 
But now from sp'gots our waters flow 
As from a tiny acorn a great oak has sprung 
vSo from little Flookstown our Arlington s come. 

RiDGELY BowEn, Age 9. 
Hookstown — (A Riddle) 
A small village 
A few buildings round about, 
The stage-coach carrying its passengers 
O'er the cross-roads of its route. 

Edith Clagett, Age 9. 



AFTER STAGF; coach DAYS ?-1'7 

AS SEEN BY THE OLD INN CLOCK. 
Long ago my little friends 

In the Hammett House I stood 
And ticked the minutes and hours away 

As faithfully as ever clock could. 
My face out between my hands 

While my pendulum steadily swung 
Undisttu-bed by the laughter and jests and jokes 

That around on every side hummed. 
Forget you're at school now, children dear, 

And come back to this roadside inn 
See the stage-coach strong with horses four 

Arrive amid clattering din. 
I watched, as others with curious eyes 

As the travel-tired guests climbed down 
To dine and rest at the Hammet House 

On their journey to Baltimore Town. 
Styles were talked o'er and news exchanged 

While for wayside fare they stayed 
Many events of the day were discussed 

While they dined e'er they passed on their way. 
Gay were the scenes and loud the mirth 
When on brave and fair I did glance 
The pride and flower of Hookstown round 

Made the Hammet House r-ing with the dance. 
Bustling scenes I witnessed there 

When the sports of the country round 
Came riding in from exciting chase 

Following the fox and hounds. 
When night came on the merry crowd 

Had gathered, a score or more 
Around the tap-room's grate to tell 

Stirring tales of sport and of war. 
Each one had been a hero brave 

And had some deed to boast 
Whether soldier at the battle front 

Or meet with mid-n-'ght ghost. 
But children, still I tick away, 

When Hammett Mouse is no more 



2/8 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY 

And Hookstown scenes you ne er would know 
Since slage-coach days are o'er. 

PiMLico Seventh Grade, 

Clara Smithson, Teacher. 

HOW ARLINGTON GOT ITS NAME. 

The children wandered over the old churchyard where many 
moss-covered tombstones marked the graves of Hookstown's 
early settlers : "David Cook, a respected citizen of Hookstown, 
died from the oversett-ng of his hay-waggon on Stony Hill in 
1795," read Tommy. "Henry Smith, a loved bishop in the Meth- 
odist church and a sojourner in Hookstown' read another. "John 
Hook and his wife Eleanor, both natives of Hookstown," read 
yet a third, while thoughtful Mary stood near the teacher with a 
puzzled look on her face. 

"Was Hookstown near Arlington,' she asked at length, "that 
all these people should be buried here?" 

"Yes," said the teacher, "Hookstown was right here, it was 
Arlington itself. While we rest in the shade of the old oak tree 
where the Indian arrow was found I will tell you all how Arling- 
ton got its name." 

When all were settled the teacher went on: 

"Many years ago when the Hook family first came here the 
place was called Hookstown for them, but as t'me went on, many 
were buried in the old church yard yonder and strangers came 
to live in the quiet village. When the Western Md. Railroad 
built the little station on Garrison Avenue people said, 'What 
name shall be placed over the door? A meeting was called at the 
log school-house on Church Lane and each person came prepared 
to vote for a new name for his home town. The school-master 
presided. Ashburton, Belview, Belvidere, and other names were 
voted upon but no decision could be reached, when Douglas, a 
village shopkeeper, said T-vote we name him Arlington for the 
home of the great George Washington!'" 

"Why," said Mary, Washington lived at Mt. Vernon, didn't 
he?" 

"Yes,'' said the teacher, "the little Jew was mixed in his his- 
tory, he forgot that Arlington was the home of General Lee, but 
his mistake made a hit and everyone said, 'Lets call the town Ar- 
lington !' So, the name was placed over the door of the station 
and Arlington took its place as one of the railroad towns of Md." 



AFTER STAGE COACH DAVS 279 

"What a good story,' said the children, as they followed their 
teacher toward the school. 

"Now I understand," said thoughtful Mary, "why so many 
people call Main St. the Hookstown Road." 

"And why old Uncle Benson wanted to know how I liked 
Hookstown, ' said Tommy as he led the way down the shady 
street to the school. 

(Dramatized by six children.) 

STAGE COACH DAYS. 

"What I want to know, father," said Tom whose teacher had 
been telling of Hookstown's early days, "what I want to know is, 
where did the electric cars run when Father Smith and his family 
lived at Pilgrims' Rest?' 

"Electric cars," laughed father, "why bless you, there were 
110 cars at that time, not even a horse-car found its way over 
Stony Hill to the little village of Hookstown.' 

"Why, father, did everyone walk to town in those days or did 
they ride in wagons?" 

"For many years," replied father, "the people rode on the 
white-hooded Conestoga wagons that passed through Hookstown 
on Market days. Later the stage coach jogged over the hills to 
Reisterstown and Penna. and stopped at the wayside villages to 
leave the mail or any chance passengers. ' 

"Did people wait for the coach at the corner as we do for 
the cars ?" asked Tom. 

"No," said father, "they went to the old Hand Tavern on 
Paca Street to meet it in the city or they could leave their names 
\\here the Commonwealth Bank is now on Howard Street and 
the coach would call for and carry them to their destination.'" 

"Suppose Father Smith wanted to get the coach " 

"Oh!" interrupted father, "he or any other Hookstown vil- 
lager had to get on at Joseph Feelemyer s postoffice where the 
coach always stopped to leave the mail." 

"How did he know when the coach was coming?" inquired 
Tom. 

" 'Tra, ra, ra' the postillion blew his horn long and loud as 
he neared the village to warn the people he was on the way. 
Every villager left his work to see the stage-coach pass, and 
waiting passenger hurried to meet at the postoffice. 



280 REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY. 

At this point grandfather looked over his spectacles and said : 
"Ah ! those were merry days ; it was a great moment when the old 
coach drew up before the postoffice door. While the mail was 
taken ofif and the people took their seats, in the coach if the day 
was rainy, or on top if the weather was fair, travelers chatted 
with the villagers who had gathered about to hear the news. Then 
when all was ready, the postillion blew his horn, the driver 
cracked his whip, the people cheered, and amid the barking of the 
village dogs the coach was off for the day. Ah ! those were merry 
days, I never shall forget them^ ' sighed grandfather as he wiped 
his spectacles and went back to his reading. 

"What became of the stage-coach, father?" asked Tom. 

"When the horse-car started up the hill from Baltimore to 
Pikesville, and the Western Maryland Railroad steamed toward 
Pennsylvania, the stage-coach seemed old-fashioned and slow — 
but," said father, "that is another story for another day, when we 
have more time for early history." 

(Dramatized by three boys.) 

A TRUE STORY OF HOOKSTOWN. 

Round about Hookstown there were many large estates, and 
ill the early days the sons of these rich land owners were gay 
young sports who spent many hours riding in tournaments or 
hunts or lounging in the tap-room of the Hammett House. Among 
these young sportsmen was Samuel B. Arnold, whose father 
owned a large estate where Mr. Trainor now has his home on 
Park He'ghts Avenue. He had been to college where he met 
\\'ilkes Booth and Dr. Mudd. These chums were seen often in 
this neighborhood riding together after the hounds. 

When Lincoln was president he set every slave free and this 
made the three chums very angry ; they said that Lincoln ought 
to be killed. One n'ght Wilkes Booth was acting in a theatre in 
Washington when he spied Lincoln in a box. He went up there 
between the acts and shot the president. He made his way to 
Virginia but sprained his ankle in making good his escape. Dr. 
Mudd and Sam. B. Arnold were arrested as conspirators and sent 
to Dry Tortugas near Florida where they stayed eight years. Old 
Mr. Arnold spent all his money trying to buy his son's freedom 
but he could not get it until John T. Ford helped him. Then 
Samuel returned to Hookstown, but he was broken in health and 
spirit and soon died from the effects of his long imprisonment on 
the lonely island. 



AFTER STAGE COACH DA^•S. 281 

(As told by Rosalie Rhodes, Age 9.) 

A Charade: Hookstown 
Scene I. 

Time — Spring morning. 
Place — Mother s sitting-room. 
Characters — Mother, Jane, Mary, Ruth. 
(Children enter room where mother is) 
Mother — "Well, are you all ready for school?" 
Jane — "Yes, mother, I am going now.' 
Alary — "I am getting my books together to go." 
Ruth — "Wait for me, girls ! I never can fasten the hooks in 
my dress. Will you help me, mother?' 
(Mother fastens dress.) 

Mother — -"Now you are ready so hurry on and be good chil- 
dren at school." 

Children — "We always are, mother ! Good-bye !" 
(Children pass out to school.) 
Scene II. 

Time — Noon of same day. 
Place — Mother s sitting-room. 
Characters — Mother, Jane, Mary, Ruth. 
(Children run in to mother.) 

Jane — "My, I'm hungry, mother, I could eat the legs off the 
table." 

Mary — "Plave you been busy, mother? I'm very tired.'' 
Ruth — "We've had a lovely morning in school : the teacher 
talked about Baltimore Town and how it was settled. Do you 
know all about it, mother?" 

Mother — "Yes, your father and I were saying only yesterday 
that Baltimore would never have been such a noted town if it 
hadn t been for its great harbor." 

Ruth — "Yes, that's just what the teacher said." 

Mother — "Let's go in to dinner. 

(All pass out.) 

Mother (to Audience) — "Can you tell what it is?" 

Ans. — Hookstown. 

A Charade: Stage Coach 
Time — Late afternoon. 
Place — Mother's sitting-room. 
Characters — Mother, Jane, Mary. Kuth. 
(Children coming in from school.) 



282 



REAL STORIES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY HISTORY. 



Jane — "O, mother, we are getting up an entertainment at 
school. It is the most fun." 

Mary — "And mother the teacher said we could invite you; 
maybe you'll make a cake ? ' 

Mother — "Certainly I will. Are you going to have a stage 
for your play?'' 

Rtitli — "No, mother, Miss Porter said we did not need one." 

Mother — "Now run out and play until father comes home for 
supper. ' 
Galley Sixty-Four — Warwick 

(Children run out — Mother goes, too.) 

Scene II; 

Time — Noon the next day. 

Place — Mother's room. 

Characters — Mother, Jane, Mary, Ruth. 

Scene II. 

(Children come in to show themselves.) 

Mother — "Let me see how you look for the entertainment. 
You look nice, Jane ; let me see you, Mary ; straighten your collar 
— now you're all right." 

Riith — "Oh ! mother, fix my sash, it don t suit me this way." 

Mother — "Come here, s\o\v-coach, you are always the last 
blow on the horn. (Fixes sash.) Now run along with your 
sisters for mother is very busy." 

Children — "Aren't you coming, mother?'' 

Mother — "Yes, if I can get done in time. Now, good-bye, 
and please keep clean." 

(Children go to school.) 

"I must hurry for I do not want to disappoint the children.' 
(Passes out.) 

Mother (to Audience) — "Can you tell what it is?" 




